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Leaders start arriving for the G20 Summit

The President of the United States, Joe Biden, is expected to touch down in New Delhi shortly before 7pm IST

President of Nigeria Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu / G20

Heads of delegations have started arriving in New Delhi for the Summit of the G 20 that is taking place on Saturday and Sunday. The first to arrive in the nation’s capital was the President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinbu. And those for the major event by late Thursday include the Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, the Director General of the World Trade Organisation, the President of the European Commission, the Secretary General of the OECD, the President of the European Council and the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund.

On Friday afternoon at around 1:40 pm (IST), the Prime Minister of Britain, Rishi Sunak, is expected to touch down followed by the Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida. The President of the United States, Joe Biden, is expected shortly before seven in the evening and after that the Prime Minister of China Li Qiang. But before Li’s arrival will be the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau. 

And the Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong will be in New Delhi today; and so will leaders  from Argentina, Italy, African Union, South Africa, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Egypt,, Australia, United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, Brazil, Indonesia, Turkiye and Spain. On Saturday morning the Chancellor of Germany and the President of France will be reaching New Delhi. 

The final count of leaders attending the mega event is still not clear excepting two major abstentions—President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China. But officials in charge of the program estimate at least thirty heads of state, invited guests from countries, top officials of major international organisations and the European Union, many of whom have already arrived in the capital city. 

The two day summit aside what also will be closely watched are the different bilaterals on the sidelines. For instance as soon as President Biden lands in New Delhi he is expected to have a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a wide ranging agenda that is said to include academic programs, small nuclear reactors, jet engines, defence deals including killer drones, humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and climate change, to mention a few. “Every time we engage, we get better:, President Biden tweeted on his way to the G 20.

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