The G20 ministers, who gathered in Varanasi, India under the country’s G20 Presidency theme One Earth, One Family, One Future, reiterated the importance of diplomacy and dialogue in ensuring a peaceful resolution to conflicts and preventing the use or threat of nuclear weapons in Ukraine. They recognized that the war in Ukraine has adversely impacted the global economy and condemned the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, stressing that it is causing immense human suffering and exacerbating existing fragilities in the global economy.
The G20 ministers agreed that it is crucial to uphold international law and the multilateral system that safeguards peace and stability, including adhering to international humanitarian law and protecting civilians and infrastructure in armed conflicts. They also emphasized the importance of sustainable development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), committing to leave no one behind.
Recognizing that social and economic development depends on the sustainable management of the earth’s limited natural resources, the G20 leaders committed to strengthening efforts in building an integrated approach for achieving sustainable development in its three dimensions–economic, social and environmental. They also highlighted the importance of enhancing debt transparency and sustainability, implementing coordinated debt treatments, and strengthening and evolving multilateral development banks.
The G20 ministers emphasized the need for greater collaboration, partnerships, and contributions of all partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, and academia, among others. They underlined the significance of international partnerships with partner countries, the United Nations system, and other relevant international organizations, while stressing the need for enhancing North-South, South-South, and Triangular cooperation.
The outcome documents adopted will be submitted for consideration by the leaders to be annexed to the G20 Summit Declaration to be held in New Delhi on September 9-10, 2023. The G20 ministers welcomed Brazil’s G20 Presidency in 2024 and South Africa’s G20 Presidency in 2025, to take forward the collective agenda of the G20.
