Minister Jaishankar welcomes G20 delegates to Varanasi heritage

Indian Minister S. Jaishankar welcomed delegates at the venue for the G20 Development Ministers' Meeting in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi.

Jaishankar will chair the G20 Development Ministers' Meeting scheduled between June 11-13 and a total of 200 delegates are expected to attend the meeting.

Dressed in traditional attire, the delegates and Jaishankar took part in the Ganga Arti ritual at the Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi on arrival. Earlier, they were welcomed in a traditional way at Namo Ghat. Seeing the cultural artists dance, the delegates also shook a leg. Following this, they boarded the cruise vessel and reached Dashashmaved Ghat. During the Aarti, there was a special Shankhnaad for the guests.

The G20 Development Ministerial meeting is an opportunity to collectively agree on actions for accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fostering synergies between the development, environment and climate agendas.

In his keynote address at the G20 Development Ministers' Meeting, Jaishankar said:

"If progress towards the SDGs was already falling short before COVID-19, this has only been further exacerbated by it. The climate change also continues unabated, with a disproportionate impact on Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States.

"Prospects for a global economic recovery remains dim amidst supply chain disruptions, prolonged debt crisis and pressures on energy, food and fertilizer security."

"The Development Ministerial is an opportunity for us as the G20 to demonstrate solidarity on these developmental issues. The decisions we make today have the potential to contribute to an inclusive, sustainable, and resilient future," he added.

(ANI)