PM Modi Meets World Leaders Including Zelensky At G7 Summit, Discusses AI, Energy And Other Key Issues

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a series of bilateral meetings with world leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, UK counterpart Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the G7 Summit on Friday and raised various issues of global importance including the problems that Global South is facing.

In an address at an Outreach session of the G7 summit in Italy’s Apulia region, PM Modi said the countries of the Global South are bearing the brunt of uncertainties and tensions around the world. India has considered it its responsibility to put the priorities and concerns of countries of the Global South on the world stage, he said.

“In these efforts, we have given high priority to Africa. We are proud that the G-20, under the chairmanship of India, made the African Union a permanent member,” he said.

PM Modi Meets Zelensky

On the sidelines of the G7 Summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Italy.

“The President spoke about the functioning of the Black Sea transport corridor, which makes it possible to increase exports of sunflower oil to India and turnover of other categories of goods,” the Ukrainian president’s website read.

Notably, the major export to India is sunflower oil from Ukraine followed by inorganic chemicals, iron and steel, plastics, chemicals, etc. India is Ukraine’s largest export destination in the Asia Pacific and the fifth-largest overall export destination.

During the G7 Summit, the Ukrainian President congratulated PM Modi on his victory in the 2024 General Elections and wished the Indian people peace and prosperity.
The two leaders further discussed the possibility of exchanging experience in the use of new technologies in agriculture.

“During the meeting, the leaders discussed the development of bilateral relations and the possibility of exchanging experience in the use of new technologies in agriculture,” the statement read.

“India has been contributing to the economic and social development, stability and security of all the countries of Africa, and will continue to do so in the future,” Modi said. The prime minister spoke extensively on the importance of ending monopoly in technology with a particular emphasis on artificial intelligence.

“We must make technology creative, not destructive. Only then will we be able to lay the foundation of an inclusive society. India is striving for a better future through this human-centric approach,” he said.

PM Modi said India is among the first few countries to formulate a national strategy on artificial intelligence.

PM Modi Focuses On AI

“Based on this strategy, we have launched the AI Mission this year. Its basic mantra is ‘AI for All’. As a founding member and lead chair of the global partnership for AI, we are promoting cooperation among all countries,” he said.

The prime minister said at the G-20 summit hosted by India last year, New Delhi stressed the importance of international governance in the field of AI.

“In the future too, we will continue to work together with all countries to make AI transparent, fair, secure, accessible and responsible,” he said. The prime minister said India’s approach in the field of energy is also based on four principles — availability, accessibility, affordability and acceptability.

“We are making every possible effort to fulfill our commitment to achieve the target of Net Zero by 2070. Together we should make efforts to make the coming time a green era,” he said.

(With inputs from agencies)