G20 Summit : Leaders Seal Consensus Declaration Amid Geopolitical Strains
Johannesburg: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged world leaders to rethink traditional development models and adopt a more inclusive, planet-friendly approach as he addressed the opening session of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg. Stressing that current global frameworks have left vast populations deprived of resources and pushed nature to the brink, PM Modi said Africa has borne the sharpest impact of these inequities.
He welcomed South Africa’s presidency for prioritising skilled migration, tourism, food security, AI, digital economy, innovation and women’s empowerment, and reiterated India’s call for greater representation of the Global South in global decision-making.
‘Integral Humanism’ as a Global Guiding Principle
Drawing from India’s civilisational ethos, the Prime Minister highlighted the philosophy of Integral Humanism as a framework to align economic progress with environmental stewardship — a cornerstone of India’s ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ vision.
Spoke at the first session of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, which focussed on inclusive and sustainable growth. With Africa hosting the G20 Summit for the first time, NOW is the right moment for us to revisit our development parameters and focus on growth that is… pic.twitter.com/AxHki7WegR
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 22, 2025
PM Modi laid out four major proposals to give shape to that vision:
1. Global Traditional Knowledge Repository
He proposed a G20-led repository of traditional knowledge, inspired by Indian Knowledge Systems, to preserve humanity’s collective wisdom and make it accessible to future generations.
2. Africa Skills-Multiplier Initiative
PM Modi announced a G20 Africa-Skills Multiplier Initiative aimed at training one million certified trainers in Africa over the next decade, enabling sector-wise skill development through a large-scale train-the-trainer model.
3. Global Healthcare Response Team
To strengthen global health preparedness, he suggested forming a G20 Global Healthcare Response Team — a pool of trained medical professionals ready for rapid deployment during pandemics, emergencies and natural disasters.
4. G20 Initiative Against Drug-Terror Nexus
Warning of the rising threat of drug trafficking, including fentanyl, the Prime Minister called for a G20 initiative to counter the drug-terror nexus, linking narcotics trade to public health risks, organised crime and terror financing.
He stressed the need for united global action to dismantle this “destructive economy.”
Historic Africa Summit Reaches Consensus Despite Tensions
The Johannesburg Summit — the first G20 Leaders’ Meet held in Africa — concluded with a consensus joint declaration, overcoming US objections during negotiations.
The 39-page declaration underscored:
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Solidarity, equality and sustainability as pillars of inclusive global growth
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Urgent action on energy security, climate change and disaster resilience
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Rising geopolitical tensions and inequality as threats to global stability
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Respect for international law, peaceful dispute resolution and human rights
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Vulnerabilities of Small Island States and Least Developed Countries
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Debt stress in developing nations affecting investments in health, education and infrastructure
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Support for sustainable industrialisation, clean energy transition and the Critical Minerals Framework
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Strengthening food security, digital public infrastructure and MDB reforms
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Joint action on corruption and migrant welfare
The declaration reaffirmed the G20’s commitment to consensus-driven multilateralism.
Africa Celebrates a Landmark Moment
South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola hailed the outcome as a “milestone for Africa” and a strong endorsement of multilateral cooperation. He noted that G20 Sherpas had finalised negotiations well ahead of the summit, allowing leaders to adopt the text smoothly.
He emphasised that all 21 members had equal say and that world leaders had collectively agreed on a shared path for global progress.
