India known as on the nations of the Global South on Friday to work in direction of self-reliance to mitigate vulnerabilities vis-a-vis financial concentrations, noting that the COVID-19 period was a stark reminder of the perils of dependence for fundamental requirements on far-away geographies.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar mentioned this whereas addressing the second version of the India-hosted Voice of Global South Summit. He additionally highlighted the achievements of India’s G20 presidency and the way it sincerely labored to deal with challenges going through the Global South or the creating nations.

“The New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration will be remembered for bringing back the G20 focus on the real and serious concerns of the Global South,” Jaishankar mentioned, including that the doc is a “comprehensive message” on selling sturdy, sustainable, balanced and inclusive development.

Without making any particular references, the exterior affairs minister mentioned there continues to be a “resistance” for a higher position for the Global South in shaping options for the important thing points of current occasions. “As we look ahead, our vision of everyone’s growth, with everyone’s trust is far from accomplished. While change is the natural order, there continues to be a resistance for a greater role for the Global South in shaping solutions for the key issues of our times,” he mentioned. “But together, we need to continue putting greater emphasis on the need to take everyone along and everyone’s views along while we deliberate at multilateral and plurilateral forums,” he mentioned.

Jaishankar argued that the Voice of Global South Summit will be significantly impactful by amplifying “our individual voices and projecting our shared interests for the emerging world order”. “We also need to work towards self-reliance to mitigate our vulnerabilities vis-a-vis economic concentrations. The Covid era is a stark reminder of the perils of dependence for basic necessities on far-away geographies,” he mentioned.

“We need to not only democratise and diversify production, but build resilient and reliable supply chains and promote local solutions. Only then can the Global South secure its future,” he added.

Jaishankar additionally referred to the African Union’s entry into the G20 as a everlasting member on the New Delhi summit of the grouping. “Perhaps, the most satisfying outcome of our G20 presidency was the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member. we have given voice to 1.4 billion people of Africa,” he mentioned.

(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – PTI)