 "India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends a plenary session on the opening day of the G20 leaders' Summit at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, November 22, 2025. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/Pool")
Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Delhi on Monday after concluding his three day visit to Johannesburg, South Africa where he took part in the G20 Summit hosted for the first time under South African presidency.
He engaged with several world leaders and attended multiple summit sessions with the focus on global growth, climate action, and development priorities of the Global South.
US boycott
Despite the boycott from the US, leaders actively participated and approved the G20 declaration. Trump remarked that South Africa’s presidency is a “total disgrace.” Trump also imposed 30 per cent tariffs, which is recorded as the highest in sub-Saharan Africa.
Key initiatives
The attending nations endorsed a 122-point document centred on global cooperation, multilateral restructuring, health, security, technology, and sustainable development.
PM Modi presented a six-point agenda aimed at strengthening global restructuring with focus on countering drug-terror chains, rapid response teams, active healthcare, and crisis management.
Bilateral meetings
Among his key bilateral meetings was one with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, where both sides agreed on countering terrorism together. PM Modi actively engaged with several other leaders, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Taking to his X handle, PM Modi wrote, “The successful Johannesburg G20 will contribute to a prosperous and sustainable planet. My meetings and interactions with world leaders were very fruitful and will deepen India’s bilateral linkages with various nations. "
They discussed trade, investment, technology, skilling, and strengthening India’s strategic and cultural partnerships.
Taking to X, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared that the two leaders discussed strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, technology, AI, defence and security, space, research, innovation and culture.
He added that both leaders also unveiled a Joint Initiative to enhance cooperation against the financing of terrorism, reinforcing shared commitment to global security.
AI Impact Summit
With the South Africa Summit now concluded, PM Modi said India is preparing to host the AI Impact Summit in February 2026 under the theme ‘Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya’ welfare and happiness for all.