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G20 leaders open summit, admit African Union as permanent member

09 September 2023 11:38 (UTC +04:00)

Leaders of the world's 20 most powerful economies began an annual summit on Saturday in New Delhi by granting permanent membership to the African Union in an effort to make the G20 more representative.

But the bloc remained deeply divided over the war in Ukraine, with Western nations pushing for strong condemnation of Russia while others demanded that the group focus on broader economic issues.

U.S. President Joe Biden and other leaders of the Group of 20 were driven through deserted streets to a new, $300 million conch-shaped convention centre called Bharat Mandapam, opposite a 16th-century stone fort, for the two-day summit in India's capital New Delhi.

Many businesses, shops, offices and schools have been closed in the city of 20 million, and traffic restricted as part of security measures to ensure the smooth running of the most high-powered meeting to be hosted by the country. Slums have been demolished and monkeys and stray dogs removed from the streets.

According to a draft of the summit declaration reviewed by Reuters, negotiators were unable to resolve disagreements over the wording on the war in Ukraine, leaving it to the leaders to reach a compromise if possible.

The 38-page draft that was circulated among members left the "geopolitical situation" paragraph blank, while it had agreed on the 75 other paragraphs.

Biden will press for a higher level of climate action from major countries at the summit, a White House official said, as concerns grow about lack of consensus on cutting emissions.

The G20 nations account for 80% of global emissions and their views are being keenly watched ahead of the COP 28 meeting in the United Arab Emirates.