NEW DEHLI: In a significant diplomatic rendezvous, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with United Arab Emirates (UAE) leader Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India today.
The closed-door meeting marked an intriguing development amid the global gathering of leaders in the Indian capital.
While Abu Dhabi is not officially a member of the G-20, India, serving as the term president, extended invitations to several countries, including UAE, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Egypt, Mauritius, Oman, Singapore, and Spain, to participate in the summit. This inclusion reflects India’s commitment to fostering global dialogue and cooperation beyond the traditional G-20 membership.
During the summit, President Erdogan engaged in substantive discussions with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, focusing on the potential revival of the Black Sea grain deal. This indicates Turkey’s active pursuit of economic opportunities and partnerships on the international stage. Additionally, Erdogan had a bilateral meeting with Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, further strengthening diplomatic ties between Turkey and Brazil.
G20 Summit kicks off in India https://t.co/zR6HQe9ExT pic.twitter.com/nwBaX4KW0I
— Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye (@trpresidency) September 9, 2023
Under the theme “One Earth, One Family, One Future,” India played host to the two-day summit. Notably, the event unfolded without the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Nonetheless, the gathered G20 leaders seized the opportunity to exchange views on critical global issues across three sessions, with a focus on trade, climate change, and other pressing challenges.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended a warm welcome to President Erdogan upon his arrival at the summit venue on the first day. The leaders participated in sessions themed “One Earth” and “One Family,” showcasing the spirit of international cooperation and shared responsibility.
As part of their visit to New Delhi, the leaders paid their respects at the tomb of Mahatma Gandhi, a symbol of peace and non-violence, by laying wreaths. They also participated in a tree-planting ceremony, underscoring their commitment to environmental sustainability.
Following the conclusion of the third session, “One Future,” the leaders are expected to adopt the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration. This declaration signifies a shared commitment to the priorities discussed and agreed upon during the ministerial and working group meetings, setting the stage for collective action on a range of global challenges.
Turkey attaches great importance to the G20 as a forum that brings together both advanced and emerging economies. The nation actively supports the continued development of the G20 agenda, a sentiment rooted in its experience hosting the G20 leaders’ summit in the southern Antalya province in November 2015 when it held the G20 presidency.
