Transcript of Special Briefing by MEA on Prime Minister's visit to South Africa (November 20, 2025)
India - Ministry of External Affairs
November 20, 2025
Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I welcome you to this special press briefing by Secretary (ER) Shri Sudhakar Dalela on Prime Minister's upcoming visit to Johannesburg, South Africa, for the G20 Leaders' Summit.
We also have with us Shri Janesh Kain, who looks after South Africa in the Ministry of External Affairs. He is Joint Secretary in charge of Eastern and Southern African countries.
With that, I hand over the floor to Secretary (ER) for his initial remarks. Sir.
Shri Sudhakar Dalela, Secretary (ER): Thank you very much, Randhir, and good evening, everyone.
You would have seen the press announcement by the Ministry yesterday. Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will be visiting Johannesburg, South Africa, from 21st to 23rd of November to attend the G20 Leaders' Summit at the invitation of the President of South Africa.
This will be the Prime Minister's fourth official visit to South Africa, following his bilateral visit in 2016, and later for the two BRICS summits in 2018 and 2023. This is the first G20 Summit that will be happening on African soil, and in that context will bring the spotlight on the development issues of Africa as also of the Global South. It may also be recalled that it was during India's G20 Presidency in 2023 that the African Union was inducted into G20 as a permanent member.
Apart from G20 members, South Africa has invited several guest countries, non-members that we know, and several heads of international organizations to the Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg.
The Summit will be important for India to ensure continuity of its priorities in the G20 after having hosted a very successful Presidency in 2023. As you are aware, the G20 has emerged as a premier forum for international economic cooperation, as well as for discussing matters of global significance. The G20 provides an excellent opportunity for the leaders of these large economies and emerging economies, representing over 85% of global GDP and around three quarters of the world population, to come together and discuss important issues impacting the world.
These include important matters such as accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, reform of global institutions of governance, tackling environmental and climate challenge, tech sustainability, bridging the digital divide, energy transition, emerging technologies, underscoring the importance of international coordination and cooperation in addressing contemporary global challenges.
Under their overall Presidency theme of solidarity, equality, sustainability, South Africa has identified four key priority areas for its G20 Presidency this year. These are, number one, strengthen disaster resilience and response. Number two, debt sustainability for low-income countries. Third, mobilize finance for just energy transition. And fourth, harness critical minerals for inclusive growth and sustainable development.
The three plenary sessions of the Leaders' Summit weave in these priority areas for discussion by the leaders on 22nd and 23rd of November. We have conveyed to you the theme of these plenary sessions also in our announcement yesterday.
The Johannesburg G20 Summit will mark the culmination of the first cycle of 20 G20 Presidencies. The priorities identified by South Africa are aligned with those of India's G20 Presidency and that of Brazil, ensuring continuity in the G20 discussions from the perspective of matters that are important to Global South.
The Indian G20 Presidency, as some of you would recall, had established a disaster risk reduction working group signifying the importance India attached to this matter. The South African Presidency has carried forward the important work related to disaster risk reduction and resilience as one of the key priorities of its own Presidency.
Similarly, through the task force on food security, the South African Presidency has carried forward the dialogue on this important challenge as well. The South African Presidency has, in a way, continued focus on issues of importance to Global South.
The New Delhi Leaders' Declaration has provided a strong basis for many of the G20 outcome documents adopted this year in the various ministerial tracks. The Indian Presidency's flagship priorities, such as digital public infrastructure, women-led development, the action plan to accelerate progress on SDGs, as well as key outcomes of the working group from last year, including the disaster risk reduction working group and the empowerment of women working group initiated by India, have found strong resonance in the South African Presidency. Furthermore, it reckoned high-level principles on food security and nutrition, commitment to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency. These are some of the other key outcomes that have been reinforced in the course of discussion this year on different tracks in the South African Presidency.
The Johannesburg Summit will also conclude the successful holding of the Presidency of the G20 by four emerging markets and developing economies of G20, namely Indonesia, India, Brazil, and now, of course, South Africa. And this has enabled all of us collectively to bring sharper focus on matters impacting the Global South. We have been actively participating in all tracks of G20 throughout the year and now, of course, in Johannesburg, and we look forward to a successful and productive G20 Summit in Johannesburg.
Before I conclude, let me also mention that on the margins of G20 Summit, PM will be participating in the IBSA, India - Brazil - South Africa Leaders' Meeting, as well as holding bilateral meetings with several leaders who will be present in Johannesburg. And with these words, I'll be very happy to respond to any question that you may have. Thank you.
Sidhant, WION: Hi, sir. Sidhant from WION. Are we looking at any bilateral meetings on the sidelines, if you can perhaps talk on that?
Yeshi Seli, Business India: This is Yeshi Seli from Business India. Is America's absence going to have any impact on the Summit? And, is Prime Minister Modi likely to meet President Xi Jinping, because he's expected to be there as well?
Ayushi Agarwal, ANI: Sir, this is Ayushi Agarwal from ANI. Given the recent activities, how much is the Indian Prime Minister going to address global concerns like terrorism? And are we expecting a strong statement against terrorism to be reflected in the G20 leaders' declaration?
Shri Sudhakar Dalela, Secretary (ER): Thank you very much. The questions regarding the bilateral meetings, as you know, for Summit of this level and this importance ... this provides a very valuable opportunity for leaders to interact and meet with other world leaders. So yes, there would be bilateral meeting, as I mentioned in my opening remarks, with world leaders who will be participating in the G20 summit in Johannesburg.
We are working out details of the bilateral meetings as we speak. But we will keep you posted once things are finalized. We will be in touch with you regarding the details of the bilateral meetings.
Regarding the issue of terrorism that Ayushi mentioned ... This is, of course, a very important subject for us. But G20, of course, as you know, is a forum where you discuss, of course, mainly economic issues and related matters. And as we speak, we are discussing a declaration for the summit. Our colleagues and teams are in Johannesburg, and all such issues are being discussed. So, I would not like to prejudge what will come in the declaration, but all important matters that are relevant from our perspective, from Global South perspective, will be highlighted by our leadership.
And, as I mentioned to you earlier, given the fact that we have had successive G20 presidency from countries from Global South, starting with Indonesia, followed by us, then Brazil, and then now South Africa, it has given us an opportunity to really, while discussing all issues, pay more attention to issues of importance to Global South.
So, we are very happy that in the course of discussion throughout the year in ministerial tracks, several of the priorities that we have highlighted during our presidency, whether it's DPI, whether it is food security, whether it is debt sustainability issues have been captured in various documentation adopted during ministerial track. And I'm confident that as our team finalize the summit declaration document, some of them will find reference there also. Thank you.
Huma Siddiqui, Stratnews Global: I'm Huma Siddiqui from Stratnews Global. You mentioned about the IBSA meeting Prime Minister will be meeting. Would you have any idea what would be the agenda?
Smita Sharma: Hi Smita Sharma. Just following up on Yeshi's question, I think you missed out on that. And adding to it, given the fact that you know you're hoping for a productive summit, but if the U.S. itself is not in the room and Mr. Marco Rubio has gone so far as to ask member nations to not sign upon the declaration, you know, there have been a lot of controversies that have been overshadowing G20 these past few years. Russian president is also not going to be there. The Chinese premier likely going to be there. Is it really going to remain as productive?
Nayanima Basu, Independent Journalist: Thank you. This is Nayanima Basu, Independent Journalist. Wanted to understand, has there been any conversation with your American counterparts or South African counterparts? Because this is unprecedented, the U.S. will not be attending. So how do you think the joint communiqué or the consensus will be arrived at? Thank you.
Niraj: Sir Afriki union ko Bharat mein jo sammelan hua tha usmein unko puri sadasyata di gayi thi aur uske pehle sammelan Pradhan Mantri ke nirdesh pe hue the aur humne us mudde ko bahut mazbooti se apne sammelan ke dauran uthaya tha. Do saal beet gaye hain, jin muddo ko Bharat ne uthaya tha aapko kahan lagta hai ki Africa mahadweep mei pehli baar ho raha hai. Wahan tak hum log pahunche, kitna aage badhe hain global south ke masle par?
[Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi] Sir, the African Union was granted full membership during the summit that took place in India, and the earlier summit had also been held under the directions of the Prime Minister. We had raised that issue very strongly during our summit. Two years have passed now — the issues that India had highlighted, where do you think we stand today, especially considering that this is happening for the first time in the African continent? How far have we progressed on matters concerning the Global South?
Bramh Prakash, Zee News: Sir, Bramh Prakash hoon Zee News se. Is summit mein jo agenda hai aapne bataya lekin Bharat ki taraf se bhi kya kuch alag se ismein mudde uthaye jayenge khastaur se terrorism, atankwad ko lekar Bharat lagataar vaishwik mancho par uthata raha hai toh kya is mudde per Prime Minister atankwad ko lekar baatcheet karenge? dwipakshiya varta mei bhi uthayenge aur is manch per bhi kya uthayenge? Thank you.
[Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi] Sir, I am Bramh Prakash from Zee News. You have explained the agenda of this summit, but will India also raise any additional issues from its side — particularly on terrorism? India has consistently highlighted the issue of terrorism on global platforms. So, will the Prime Minister raise this matter during his discussions, take it up in bilateral meetings as well, and raise it on this forum? Thank you.
Shri Sudhakar Dalela, Secretary (ER): I think there was a question on IBSA meeting that is taking place. So, as all of you know, India - Brazil - South Africa are three democracies from three continents, all from Global South. And we have a very unique forum of coordinating among ourselves around three pillars of cooperation, I would say. One is the political coordination. The second is trilateral cooperation that we do, including people-to-people contact. And thirdly, what we do collectively as IBSA for countries in Global South, particularly on the aspect of food and hunger through IBSA fund.
So, this meeting, although it is a meeting happening on the sidelines of a summit, it will be a short meeting, I'm confident that the three leaders will be reviewing what we have been following up under these three pillars of cooperation in recent time. I would like to also say that only in September this year, on the margins of UNGA in New York, the IBSA foreign ministers had met also and issued a statement also on some of the themes that we keep discussing among ourselves as like-minded countries.
So, that is what we expect in the IBSA meeting. But again, I would not prejudge what final leaders will discuss and decide. So, I would like you to wait, and we would certainly update you after the IBSA leaders meeting in Johannesburg.
As regards question about U.S. participation, I would like to comment on our own participation at the G20 leaders' summit. All of you are aware of the debate in the media and the information available in public domain about the participation of various members of G20. So that is not for me to comment. As I mentioned to you earlier, for us, G20 is a very important forum. And as I mentioned to you, in the last three, four years, starting with Indonesia and followed by our own presidency, which were very successful, where we agreed to have consensus declaration ... would really pilot and take new initiative on a number of themes that impact Global South. We are very happy that these discussions have carried forward under the presidency of Brazil. And of course, in South Africa also, as I mentioned to you, under four verticals that South Africa has outlined for their own presidency. A number of things have been achieved throughout the year under various tracks in these areas.
So, we are very happy that the issue of importance to Global South are at the center for discussion and are being highlighted. So, I think for us, G20 is very important. And as I said, issue of priority to us have been taken forward through successive presidencies.
The issue of terrorism, I think I already mentioned to you that every issue of importance to us will be highlighted, will be taken up, has been taken up. And as we have these bilateral meetings take place, we will certainly update you about what leaders have decided. And I will not certainly prejudge the outcome of these conversations at the leaders level.
Finally, the issue of ... jo aapne sawal uthaya African Union ke bare mei aur global south ke priorities ke bare mei. Jisa maine bataya hai ki yeh bahut hi mahatvapoorn tha ki hamari presidency mein African Union ko humne G20 ke framework mein leke aaye usko. Aur yeh pehli baar G20 African soil pe ho rahi hai South Africa mein, so yeh bhi hamare liye bahut mahatvapoorn baat hai ki AU will be joining in this summit in Johannesburg.
Aur jaisa maine bataya ki jitne bhi mudde hamare global south ke liye important hai usko highlight kiya gaya hai bahut mazbooti se pichle teen-char salon mei. Aur hamei apeksha hai ki jo yeh mudde hain jinke upar hamari sahmati bani hai ministerial tracks mein bhi uska kisi na kisi tarike se declaration jo hai summit ke jiske upar baatcheet chal rahi hai Johannesburg mei usko bhi capture kiya jayega. Toh hamare liye I think jaisa maine bataya ki global south ke angle se yeh Johannesburg summit mahatvapoorn hai. Thank you.
[Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi] Finally, regarding the issue you raised about the African Union and the priorities of the Global South — as I mentioned, it was extremely significant that during India's Presidency, we brought the African Union into the G20 framework. And this is the first time that the G20 is being held on African soil, in South Africa. So, it is also very important for us that the AU will be joining this summit in Johannesburg.
As I said, all the issues that are important for the Global South have been strongly highlighted over the past three to four years, and we expect that the matters on which we have reached consensus, even at the ministerial tracks, will in some form be reflected in the summit declaration that is currently being negotiated in Johannesburg. So, for us, as I mentioned, from the perspective of the Global South, this Johannesburg summit is of great importance. Thank you.
Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: With that, ladies and gentlemen, we come to the close of this press conference.
We shall keep you updated with all the bilateral meetings and other participation that our Prime Minister will have in the G20 Summit. Thank you very much.
New Delhi
November 20, 2025
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