New Delhi, March 27 India on Friday said that it is looking forward to participating in the G20 Summit, which is set to be held in Florida later this year under the US presidency.
While addressing a weekly media briefing in New Delhi on Friday, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Randhir Jaiswal, also spoke about India's participation as an outreach country in the G7 meeting.
When asked whether India protested against the exclusion of South Africa from the G7 and the US' plans not to invite South Africa to the G20 meeting, Jaiswal responded, "India is an outreach country which was invited by the host to participate in the G7 meeting. It is for the host to decide whom they want to invite, whom they want to call for those meetings. I believe there are some reports on that, so I would refer you to look at them. As far as the G20 is concerned, this time the United States is the chair of the G20, and we look forward to participating in the G20 Summit, which will take place later this year, involving all G20 countries."
The US assumed the presidency of the G20 in December 2025 and is set to host the G20 Leaders' Summit in Miami on December 14-15, later this year.
Jaiswal also mentioned about External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar's participation in the ongoing G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in France and his discussions with his counterparts from several nations on the sidelines of the event.
"Our External Affairs Minister is in Paris for the G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting. He has already had meetings with several foreign ministers, including those from France, Germany, South Korea, Japan, and Brazil, on the sidelines. Even as we speak, these engagements are continuing because today is also a working day. He participated in two sessions. One was on global governance, where he discussed the need for reforms in the Security Council. He also addressed the issue of streamlining peacekeeping operations and strengthening humanitarian supply chains. He also briefed the gathering on India's concerns regarding global food, fuel, and fertilizer supplies. We all see the impact that the conflict is having on these issues across the world," said Jaiswal.
"In the second meeting, he also participated in a session focused on connectivity and IMEC, and again, he discussed the uncertainties arising from the conflicts in West Asia and why it is important that we have more resilient trade corridors and supply chains. In the context of IMEC, he also discussed the FTAs we have signed with the UK and the EU, as well as with EFTA countries, and how these are important. And in that regard, how important the IMEC corridor itself is," he added.
EAM Jaishankar is currently on a two-day official visit to France for the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting being held at Abbaye des-Vaux-de-Cernay.
Earlier in the day, EAM Jaishankar had a "useful discussion" with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in France.
"Useful discussions this morning with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio," EAM Jaishankar wrote on X.
EAM Jaishankar also held a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha in France. Both ministers discussed developments in West Asia, the importance of regional stability, and the safe functioning of key global supply chains. They also reaffirmed their mutual interest in strengthening bilateral ties.
"I had a meaningful exchange of views with my Indian colleague Dr. S. Jaishankar on the margins of the G7 ministerial meeting in France. We discussed developments in the Middle East, as well as the importance of regional stability and the safe functioning of key global supply chains," Sybiha posted on X following the meeting.
"We also coordinated further contacts and reaffirmed our mutual interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation," he added.