Symposium on India’s Global Leadership and G20 Summit

Date: 4th September 2023 | Venue: Convention Centre, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi

The Centre for India West Asia Dialogue (CIWAD), in collaboration with Hamdard School of International Studies, Jamia Hamdard, organized a symposium on “India’s Global Leadership and the G20 Summit” on 4th September 2023 at the Convention Centre, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi.

The event was chaired by Prof. Afshar Alam, Vice Chancellor, Jamia Hamdard, who highlighted the significance of academic forums in shaping informed perspectives on India’s foreign policy and global leadership.

Keynote Address

The keynote address was delivered by Ambassador Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. Ambassador Verma emphasized India’s strategic autonomy in foreign policy and underlined the centrality of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (“One Earth – One Family – One Future”) as India’s guiding philosophy during its G20 presidency. He highlighted India’s focus on inclusive growth, energy transition, climate finance, and democratization of global governance institutions.

Distinguished Speakers

The symposium featured insights from a panel of distinguished speakers:

• Ambassador Anil Trigunayat, IFS (Retd.), Former Indian Ambassador to Libya and Jordan, spoke on India’s pragmatic diplomacy in times of shifting global alliances.
• Prof. Ashwini Kumar Mahapatra, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), analyzed India’s geopolitical challenges in the wake of the Ukraine crisis and China-West tensions.
• Prof. Sanjay Kumar Pandey, School of International Studies, JNU, stressed the need for India to balance its domestic developmental priorities with global leadership aspirations.
• Dr. Omair Anas, Director, CIWAD, underlined India’s emerging role as a knowledge economy and its proactive engagement with West Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Special Guest

The event was graced by H.E. Dr. Bassam Seifeddin Alkhateeb, Ambassador of the Syrian Arab Republic to India, who acknowledged India’s growing role in shaping a multipolar and inclusive world order. Members of the diplomatic community from Estonia, Italy, Luxembourg, and Hungary also attended the symposium, enriching the dialogue with their perspectives.

Key Themes

The discussions highlighted:

• India’s transition from a reluctant power to a proactive leader in global governance.
• The G20 summit as a platform for India to articulate concerns of the Global South.
• The importance of democratizing international institutions such as the IMF and the UN Security Council.
• Expanding India’s partnerships in West Asia and beyond, marking a shift in neighborhood and maritime policy.
• India’s role in bridging the digital divide, ensuring food and energy security, and promoting sustainable development.

Conclusion

The symposium concluded with a reaffirmation of India’s potential to lead through dialogue, inclusivity, and global cooperation. The presence of diplomats, scholars, and policymakers underscored the importance of academic-policy dialogues in advancing India’s foreign policy discourse.

The event successfully brought together voices from government, academia, and the diplomatic community to reflect on India’s aspirations for shaping a more equitable world order.