Rio de Janeiro: The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has commended India's "high level of efficiency" in orchestrating the G20 Summit held the previous year. He has also expressed that Rio has sought inspiration from New Delhi in its preparations for hosting the summit this year, according to sources.
During the bilateral meeting's opening, President Lula highlighted Brazil's aspiration to achieve the same level of efficiency in organizing the Summit as demonstrated by India last year.
Sources further reported that President Lula conveyed to Prime Minister Modi that a significant portion of Brazil's strategies for the G20 have been influenced by the successful approach of the G20 in India. He emphasized Brazil's ambition to replicate India's level of efficiency in Summit organization.
The 2024 G20 Summit, led by Brazil, marked the inception of the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty. This initiative called upon global leaders to address the issue of hunger and poverty on a global scale.
In a significant announcement, President Lula launched the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, underscoring the need for collective action to eradicate these issues that afflict humanity.
During the launch ceremony of the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, President Lula articulated, "Hunger and poverty are not natural phenomena or the result of scarcity. They stem from political decisions that perpetuate the marginalization of large segments of the global population. The G20, representing 85 percent of the global GDP, 75 percent of global trade in goods and services, and two-thirds of the world's population, holds a unique position to address these challenges. It is incumbent upon us, gathered here today, to confront this crisis head-on and restore humanity's dignity."
Drawing attention to international statistics, he noted, "In 2024, an estimated 733 million people will continue to suffer from undernourishment. This equates to the combined populations of Brazil, Mexico, Germany, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Canada facing food insecurity. These are individuals—women, men, and children—whose rights to life, education, development, and food are violated daily. In a world capable of producing nearly 6 billion tons of food annually, this is indefensible. In a world where military expenditures exceed 2.4 trillion dollars, this is indefensible."
Prime Minister Modi also extended his support for Brazil's initiative to establish the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, emphasizing the critical role of the Global South, particularly in the face of food, fuel, and fertilizer crises exacerbated by ongoing conflicts. He highlighted the importance of prioritizing the concerns of the Global South in the Summit's agenda.
"We endorse Brazil's initiative for a Global Alliance against hunger and poverty. This step is crucial for the implementation of the Deccan High-level principles for Food Security, adopted at the New Delhi Summit," he declared.
