Extraordinary And Plenipotentiary Diplomatist July 19 Edition . | Seite 17

GLOBAL CENTRE STAGE
Japan-America-India trilateral meeting between Prime Minister, Donald Trump, President
of United States and Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan on the sidelines of G20 Summit
in Osaka (June 28, 2019)
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi attending the BRICS Meeting, on the sidelines of
the G-20 Summit, in Osaka, Japan on June 28, 2019.
An ADBI Initiative
wide range of issues, encompassing the environment
and climate change, women’s empowerment, health,
reducing inequalities, energy, development, trade
and investment. It undoubtedly off ers renewed hope
for the recovery of global growth and lowering of
tensions on key diff erences between the USA and
the rest of the world…perhaps largely because
Trump-the presidential candidate is taking over
from Trump the business-politician. Thanks to the
restraint and comparative moderation shown by him
in one meeting after another (reciprocated by all his
interlocutors), diff erences were very much on display
without confrontational rhetoric, and temperatures
not only came down, but negotiated solutions seemed
achievable—no mean feat on an issue such as USA-
China trade or USA-India tensions on the latter’s
defence contracts with Russia.
As is not unusual, the meetings on the sidelines,
especially between President Trump and other world
leaders, the trilateral and multilateral between Russia-
China-India, USA-India-Japan, BRICS, etc tried to
assert their relevance – with varying success, but
contributing to the usefulness of G 20 as an invaluable
networking opportunity for world leaders. After all, the
G 20 represents two-thirds of the world population, 80
percent of world trade and 85 percent of global GDP
between its 20 members from the developing to the
developed world.
A few questions, however, continue to nag G20
observers, moderating the sense of optimism for
the future of the world. The consensual bonhomie
is difficult to sustain post-Summit, given that
guidelines are non-enforceable and none of the big
problems has been resolved even while commitment
to further dialogue has been expressed and patience
in expecting progress promised. Moreover, a caring
world is diffi cult to envisage when the mighty and
powerful insist on being ultra-nationalistic. Finally,
solutions to many of the world’s problems seem
beyond the capacity of governments to resolve—for
example, climate change. Unless there are viable
partnerships between government and civil society
(including business, the media, women and youth)
G 20 declarations will be remembered as pious
statements of intent.
In 2022, it will be India’s turn to host the G 20. India
will have to draw upon its cultural and civilizational
assets, to address the crying global need to change
mindsets and lifestyles, in addition to the usual tradition
of papering over diff erences and ensuring a “positive”
outcome in terms of declarations, if a better world is
to emerge in the years ahead. 
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 7 • Issue 7 • July 2019, Noida • 17