PM Modi G20 Summit 2025 Highlights: The G20 Summit opened on Saturday with an ambitious agenda to reach consensus on long-standing problems afflicting the world’s poorest nations. The event is being attended by political leaders from around the world — including Prime Minister Narendra Modi — but US President Donald Trump remains conspicuous in his absence. The famous Soweto township (once home to Nelson Mandela) will play host as they try and find consensus on the priorities set out by the host country.
PM Modi accorded warm welcome in Johannesburg
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a vibrant and heartfelt welcome by the Indian diaspora upon his arrival in Johannesburg on Friday night. Members of the community also performed folk dances representing 11 Indian states and put up musical performances. The PM also met with the heads of prominent community organisations in the city and held a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the Summit.
“Both leaders expressed satisfaction at the deepening and diversification of cooperation between India and Australia in the last five years following the elevation of the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2020. Prime Minister Albanese offered his solidarity on the recent terror attack in India. The leaders committed to strengthening the global fight against terrorism. Both leaders reviewed ways to further deepen bilateral cooperation across a broad spectrum of areas…” said a press release from the Ministry of External Affairs.
Trump boycott shadows event
The two-day summit will take place without the world’s biggest economy after United States President Donald Trump ordered a US boycott of the summit over his claims that South Africa is pursuing racist anti-white policies and persecuting its Afrikaner white minority. A monthslong diplomatic rift between the US and South Africa deepened in the buildup, but while Trump’s boycott dominated the pre-talks talk in Johannesburg and threatened to undercut the agenda, some of the leaders were eager to move on.
“I do regret it. But it should not block us. Our duty is to be present, engage and work all together because we have so many challenges,” said French President Emmanuel Macron.
South Africa said the US was exerting pressure on it not to issue any leaders’ declaration in the absence of the US and instead tone down the final document to a unilateral statement from the host country. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa responded to that by saying “we will not be bullied” and has promised a declaration from all members present at the close of the summit on Sunday. The direction of the G20 bloc is likely to change sharply given the US takes over the rotating presidency from South Africa at the end of this summit and the Trump administration has derided the focus on climate change and inequality.
The only role the US will play at this summit, the White House said, will be when a representative from the United States Embassy in South Africa attends the formal handover ceremony at the end to accept the G20 presidency. South Africa said it’s an insult for Ramaphosa to hand over to what it considers to be a junior diplomatic official.
First African G20 Summit
This is the first time that the G20 Summit is being held in Johannesburg, South Africa and even the African continent. The G20 is actually a group of 21 members that includes 19 nations, the European Union and the African Union. The bloc was formed in 1999 as a bridge between rich and poor nations to confront global financial crises. While it often operates in the shadow of the Group of Seven richest democracies, G20 members together represent around 85% of the world’s economy, 75% of international trade and more than half the global population.
But it works on consensus rather than any binding resolutions, and that is often hard to come by with the different interests of members like the US, Russia, China, India, Japan, the Western European nations France, Germany and the UK, and others like Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
G20 Summit 2025 LIVE: South Africa expects tense week at summit won't impact US trade talks
Even after a tense weekend at the G20 summit in Johannesburg, South African Trade Minister Parks Tau said on Sunday that he expects talks with the US on a trade agreement to move forward. Despite objections from Washington, whose delegation ultimately boycotted the gathering, South Africa, as host nation, went ahead and secured adoption of the G20 Leaders’ Declaration.
PM Modi G20 Summit 2025 LIVE: Modi discusses trade, critical minerals with SA President Ramaphosa
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday met South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on the sidelines of the G20 Summit here and the two leaders discussed cooperation in various areas, including trade, investment, mining, critical minerals, AI and food security.
"Had an excellent meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa during the G20 Summit in Johannesburg," Modi posted on social media after his meeting.
"We reviewed the full range of the India-South Africa partnership, especially in boosting linkages of commerce, culture, investment and diversifying cooperation in technology, skilling, AI, critical minerals and more," he added.
Modi also congratulated the South African leader on the successful presidency of the G20 summit this year. He appreciated South African G20 efforts to take forward and build on decisions arrived during the New Delhi G20 Summit.
South Africa is hosting the first G20 Summit being held in Africa. The African Union became a member of the G20 during India's presidency in 2023.
- via PTI
PM Modi G20 Summit 2025 LIVE: 'New trilateral technology partnership', PM Modi meets Canadian and Australian counterpart
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Canadian counterpart Mark Carney and Australian PM Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders' Summit on Saturday.
Sharing images from the meetings, the Prime Minister said, "A new trilateral technology and innovation partnership! Had an excellent meeting with Mr. Anthony Albanese, PM of Australia and Mr. Mark Carney, PM of Canada on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. We are delighted to announce an Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership today. The initiative will deepen collaboration between democratic partners across three continents and three oceans in emerging technologies, support diversification of supply chains, clean energy and mass adoption of AI. We look forward to working together to guarantee a better future for the coming generations!"
PM Modi G20 Summit 2025 LIVE: PM meets UN Gen Secy António Guterres
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets UN General Secretary António Guterres.
In a post on X, he said, "A very productive conversation with the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. António Guterres on the sidelines of the G20 Johannesburg Summit."
PM Modi G20 Summit 2025 LIVE: Modi's 2 big proposals at G20 summit
Addressing the G20 leaders, Prime Minister Modi said, "India proposes the setting up of a G20 Global Healthcare Response Team. We are stronger when we work together in the face of health emergencies and natural disasters. Our effort should be to create teams of trained medical experts from fellow G20 nations who are ready for rapid deployment in case of any emergencies."
"To overcome the challenge of drug trafficking, especially the spread of extremely dangerous substances like fentanyl, India proposes a G20 Initiative on Countering the Drug–Terror Nexus. Let us weaken the wretched drug-terror economy," he added.
PM Modi G20 Summit 2025 LIVE: 'Africa’s progress is vital for global progress', says PM Modi
Africa’s progress is vital for global progress and India has always stood in solidarity with Africa, PM Modi said at the G20 summit.
"I am proud of the fact that it was during India’s G20 Presidency that the African Union became a permanent G20 member. Taking forward this spirit, India proposes a G20–Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative. Our collective goal should be to create 1 million certified trainers in Africa within the next decade," he added.
PM Modi G20 Summit 2025 LIVE: PM Modi proses G20 Global Traditional Knowledge Repository in SA
Giving a summary of what he said, the PM tweeted that he proposed a few actionables to "realise our dream of all-round growth".
"First among them is the creation of a G20 Global Traditional Knowledge Repository. India has a rich history in this regard. This will help us pass on our collective wisdom to further good health and wellbeing," he said.
PM Modi G20 Summit 2025 LIVE: PM Modi proposes 2 initiatives at Leaders' Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday addressed the G20 leaders' summit in South Africa.
Sharing a post on X, he said, "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 inclusive and sustainable. India’s civilisational values, especially the principle of Integral Humanism offers a way forward"
PM Modi G20 Summit 2025 LIVE: High debt hinders growth of developing economies - G20 Summit Declaration
The G20 countries said they underscore their belief in multilateral cooperation.
They acknowledged that "increasing large-scale disasters disproportionately affect people in vulnerable situations in ways that exacerbate poverty, inequality".
"We recognise that a high level of debt is one of the obstacles to inclusive growth in many developing economies...we are committed to strengthen the implementation of the g20 common framework for debt treatments in a predictable, timely, orderly, and coordinated manner" the Declaration said.
PM Modi G20 Summit 2025 LIVE: G20 Summit Declaration out, leaders commit to peace in Ukraine
The G20 Summit Declaration says the countries pledge their commitment to ensure lasting peace in the "occupied Palestine territory and Ukraine".
"We will work for a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the occupied Palestinian territory and Ukraine," the statement read.
PM Modi G20 Summit 2025 LIVE: 'G20 has broadened its scope', South African President at Leaders' meet
The South African President said the G20 is now engaged on matters such as trade, sustainable development, health, education, science and technology, agriculture, energy, the environment, climate change and many others.
"It has therefore broadened its scope as the challenges of the peoples of the world require that they should be addressed..." he said.
PM Modi G20 Summit 2025 LIVE: 'First G20 leaders' summit on African soil', says South African President
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses leaders at the G20 Summit. He said, "This is the very first G20 Leaders' Summit to be held on African soil."
"We gather here at the cradle of humanity in Africa to affirm our common humanity. We gather here to affirm the value of partnership and cooperation, and to find common solutions to shared problems..." the South African president said.
PM Modi G20 Summit 2025 LIVE: PM Modi meets Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni - Video
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the G20 Leaders' Summit.
Johannesburg, South Africa: Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the G20 Leaders' Summit pic.twitter.com/VcrQV0wDcz
— IANS (@ians_india) November 22, 2025
PM Modi G20 Summit 2025 LIVE: PM Modi arrives at G20 Summit venue
As per the latest update by ANI, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived at the G20 Summit venue.
PM Modi G20 Summit 2025 LIVE: PM Modi to highlight India’s stand across all G20 sessions
PM Modi will be presenting India’s views across all three sessions of the G20 Summit, as per PIB. He is expected to speak on topics like climate action, energy transitions, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, artificial intelligence, food systems and critical minerals.
PM Modi G20 Summit 2025 LIVE: European Commission President Von der Leyen meets Starmer before G20 sessions
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that she had a “good meeting” with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Johannesburg ahead of the G20 discussions. In a social media post on X, she mentioned that like-minded people will work together to maintain unity at the summit. Leyen further added that the situation in Ukraine is a clear reminder of why this cooperation matters.
PM Modi G20 Summit 2025 LIVE: G20 leaders meet in South Africa as US boycotts
Leaders of the Group of 20 major economies have come together in South Africa for a summit marked by a US boycott. The meeting is focused on finalising a draft leaders’ declaration that has been prepared without American participation. This move has been termed a senior White House official as “shameful,” as quoted by Reuters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also shared a video on his X account highlighting the warm welcome he received in Johannesburg. He also said that he is looking forward to participating in the G20 Summit proceedings today.
PM Modi G20 Summit 2025 LIVE: PM Modi moved by Tamil rendition of "Ganga Maiya'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that he was “deeply moved by the performance of the Girmitiya song “Ganga Maiya” in Johannesburg. He described the Tamil rendition as “a unique experience.” He further added that the song reflects the “hope and determination” of the early Indian community that came to South Africa decades ago and faced hardships. PM Modi said that these families have kept India alive in their hearts through songs and devotion.
PM Modi G20 Summit 2025 LIVE: PM Modi meets with community leaders in Johannesburg
PM Modi also met with the heads of key community organisations in Johannesburg, holding a discussion that was based on diaspora engagement and cultural outreach. After meeting Jaydev Shukla, the priest of the Lakshminarayanan Temple in Lenasia, stated to ANI that the PM stressed the significance of preserving Indian languages and encouraged overseas Indians to visit India every year.
PM Modi G20 Summit 2025 LIVE: PM Modi meets Indian origin tech entrepreneurs in Johannesburg
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday stated that he had a “fruitful interaction” with Indian-origin tech entrepreneurs in Johannesburg. He underlined that they shared insights on their work in “FinTech, social media platforms, healthcare, medical devices, agriculture, education and more.” In a post on X, he added that he “called upon them to deepen their engagement with India and work closely with people.