New York:

US President Joe Biden came with a very positive and optimistic feeling after the G20 Summit in India and a lot of great work was done in those couple of productive days, White House official John Kirby said on Monday.

He further said that everyone is grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the G20 presidency and for executing the agenda.

US National Security Council (NSC) Coordinator for strategic communications John Kirby was addressing a briefing ahead of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

“He (Biden) came away from the G20 feeling very positive and optimistic about the direction. I mean, there was an awful lot of great work done at the G20 and we’re all grateful to Prime Minister Modi for his presidency, for India’s presidency of it, but also for the way the agenda was executed. It was a very, very productive couple of days,” Mr Kirby said at the briefing.

On being asked if any bilateral discussion can be expected between India and the US during the forum, Mr Kirby said there is no bilateral discussion on President Biden’s agenda with the Indian delegation.

“I’m not aware of any specific India-focused meetings on his agenda while he’s here in New York.,” Mr Kirby added.

At the recently concluded G20 summit in New Delhi leaders managed to agree on a joint statement laying out shared views on climate change and economic development and called on all states to refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition.

There was also an announcement on a new infrastructure and economic corridor that will connect India, the Middle East and Europe which the US President dubbed a “A really big deal.”

US President Joe Biden recently was in New Delhi to participate in the G20 Summit under India’s presidency.

On the sidelines of the G20 Summit, President Biden and PM Modi held a bilateral meeting, during which they reiterated working for a stronger India-US strategic partnership, and reviewed various areas of cooperation between the two nations.
 

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New Delhi:

As the national capital gets ready to host the 18th G20 Summit today with global leaders in presence, it is very important to look at what it holds in its agenda.

The summit is being attended by more than 30 heads of state and top officials from the European Union and invited guest countries and 14 heads of international organisations.

India is hosting the G20 Leader’s Summit in the national capital at the newly inaugurated Bharat Mandapam on September 9-10.

The Summit would commence with the arrival of the world leaders at the venue (Bharat Mandapam) from 9.30 am onwards.

At around 10.30 the first session of the G20 Summit: ‘One Earth’ will take place. One Earth will be one of the main topics of discussion during the session at the G20 leaders’ summit. This session will focus on accelerating climate action through increased mitigation and strengthening the agenda of global net zero emission as soon as possible.

Notably, the theme of this year’s G20 Summit, which is taking place under India’s presidency is “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth – One Family – One Future” – is drawn from the ancient Sanskrit text of the Maha Upanishad. Essentially, the theme affirms the value of all life – human, animal, plant, and microorganisms – and their interconnectedness on the planet Earth and in the wider universe.

After the conclusion of the ‘One Earth’ session, and followed by lunch, another session of ‘One Family’ would be conducted at 3.00 p.m. as a part of the Summit.

At around 7:00 pm in the evening hours, the dinner hosted by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu will take place.

Besides the foreign delegates parliamentarians and ministers in the current Cabinet, the G20 Summit dinner will be attended by some of the former senior leaders of the nation.

US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are among the key leaders who are going to attend the event in the country’s capital city.

Notably, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be taking part in the weekend summit. China, however, will be represented at the summit by Chinese Premier Li Qiang, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will represent Russia.

This is the first time that the G20 Summit is being hosted by India. Extensive preparations have been underway to portray India’s tradition and strength.

India aims to achieve the twin objectives of adding the African Union as a member of G20 and resolving disagreements about a joint statement related to the war in Ukraine at the Summit.

During the presidency, India has focused on various issues like inclusive growth, digital innovation, climate resilience, and equitable global health access. By leveraging its presidency, India is fostering collaborative solutions that benefit its own population and contribute to the broader global well-being.

The countries taking part in the G20 Summit include Nigeria, Argentina, Italy, the AU (represented by Comros), and South Africa. Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, Japan Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Korea, Egypt, Australia, the United States, Canada, China, the U.A.E, Brazil, Indonesia, Turkey Spain, Germany, France, Mauritius, the European Union and Singapore.

A warm welcome was accorded to leaders who arrived in Delhi for the G20 Summit which begins on Saturday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing confidence that the gathering of world leaders will chart a new path in human-centric and inclusive development.

The leaders who reached the national capital include US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Argentina President Alberto Fernandez and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

The leaders were welcomed by traditional dance performances.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa also reached India. He had hosted the BRICS summit last month.

Other leaders who arrived in the national capital include Chinese Premiere Li Qiang, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Oman Deputy Prime Minister Asaad bin Tariq bin Taimur, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Egypt President El-Sisi, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

African Union Chairperson Azali Assoumani, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Argentina President Alberto Angel Fernandez, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Secretary-General, Mathias Cormann, World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also reached Delhi.
 

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New Delhi:

Rishi Sunak said today that his visit to New Delhi for the G20 Leaders’ Summit is “obviously special” as he joked about being referred to as the “son-in-law of India” as the first British Prime Minister of Indian heritage and married to an Indian – Akshata Murty.

Speaking to reporters in a huddle on his flight to New Delhi, the 43-year-old British Indian leader said he was excited to be back in India, “a country that is very near and dear to me”. He is joined on the visit by his wife, the daughter of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, and is scheduled for bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the summit.

“I’m heading to the G20 Summit with a clear focus. Stabilising the global economy. Building international relationships. Supporting the most vulnerable,” tweeted Rishi Sunak as he embarked on the three-day tour.

“It’s obviously special. I saw somewhere that I was referred to as India’s son-in-law, which I hope was meant affectionately,” he told reporters travelling with him.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has been flagged as a key topic on the agenda for the UK during the summit discussions, with Downing Street saying India’s role and influence is “vital”.

“Once again, Vladimir Putin is failing to show his face at the G20. He is the architect of his own diplomatic exile, isolating himself in his presidential palace and blocking out criticism and reality. The rest of the G20, meanwhile, are demonstrating that we will turn up and work together to pick up the pieces of Putin’s destruction,” Rishi Sunak told reporters.

His Downing Street spokesperson said the UK will use “every opportunity” to show its support for Ukraine and further foster global support as well.

“India has a vital role to play as the world’s largest democracy in calling out Russia’s assault on human rights and indeed democracy itself. We will use meetings with PM Modi or elsewhere to encourage them to use that influence to bring an end to Putin’s brutal invasion,” Prime Minister Sunak’s spokesperson said.

The India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations are likely to also feature highly during the Narendra Modi-Rishi Sunak bilateral discussions, having just completed 12 rounds of negotiations but with no set timeframe for its conclusion.

Separately, Downing Street has indicated that there will be no changes to the UK immigration policy as part of the deal, though short-term business visas are up for discussion as part of the trade talks.

Official UK government statistics peg the India-UK bilateral trade relationship as worth around GBP 36 billion in 2022, expected to be significantly enhanced with what both sides have branded as a deep and forward-looking FTA.

PM Modi and Prime Minister Sunak last met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, in May. A month later, during UK-India Week in London, Rishi Sunak had said he “can’t wait” to meet his Indian counterpart again.

“Prime Minister Modiji and I agree there’s huge potential here. We’re making great progress together on the 2030 Roadmap and we want to strike a truly ambitious trade deal that benefits both our nations, bringing tremendous opportunities to businesses and consumers, both in India and here at home,” he said at the time.
 

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New Delhi:

In view of the upcoming G-20 Summit, the Delhi Police has put in place a slew of restrictions to ensure a smooth flow of traffic in the national capital.

A press release issued by the Delhi Traffic Police said that despite sharing the traffic advisory on social media handles and websites of the Delhi Traffic Police, it is still receiving a lot of queries from the public about its traffic management plan for the summit.

In reference to this, the Delhi Traffic Police has prepared a list of replies to some frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the traffic regulations in the city during the G20 Summit.

1. Where will the G-20 Summit be held in Delhi?

The G-20 Summit will take place at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, on September 9 and 10, 2023. However, the delegates will also visit Rajghat, NGMA (National Gallery of Modern Art) and Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Pusa during the summit.

2. How will the G-20 Summit affect traffic movement in Delhi?

There may be certain traffic regulations in the area of in and around New Delhi from 07.09.2023 to 11.09.2023. Delhi traffic police have endeavoured to ensure unhindered Metro services and to ensure that all modes of public transport are available with certain regulations. Outside the jurisdiction of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) area, the flow of general traffic will remain unaffected, with the exception of National Highway 48 (NH-48).

All medical shops, grocery shops, milk booths, and vegetable/fruit shops will remain open throughout Delhi including New Delhi. Government employees, media personnel, medical practitioners and para-medics will be allowed to use their private vehicles as well as government vehicles in the Controlled Zone.

General traffic, including all types of commercial vehicles and buses already present in Delhi shall be allowed on the Ring Road and road network beyond Ring Road towards the borders of Delhi. Movement of passengers to the Airport, Railway Stations, and ISBTs will be facilitated as all these facilities will be operational even during the G-20 Summit. Bonafide residents and authorized vehicles will be allowed to move within New Delhi District.

Vehicles dealing with housekeeping, catering, waste management, etc. for hotels, hospitals and other important installations in the New Delhi District will be allowed after verification. Commuters are suggested to make maximum use of Metro services as Metro services shall remain available for commuters at all metro stations in Delhi. However, boarding/deboarding at Supreme Court Metro Station will not be permitted from 05:00 hrs, on 90.09.2023 to 23:00 hrs, on 10.09.2023.

Delhi Traffic Police has issued a detailed traffic advisory for guiding the commuters during the G-20 Summit. Alternative routes and modes of transport have been suggested for seamless connectivity throughout Delhi. It is advisable to stay updated with the official announcements regarding public transportation schedules and any temporary changes.

3. Will there be any restrictions on public transportation during the G-20 Summit in Delhi?

There may be some limitations in the public transport system depending on security requirements as certain modes of public transport and certain routes of public transportation will be modified or temporarily suspended during the G-20 Summit from 07.09.2023 to 11.09.2023. Airport, Railway, Metro services, Interstate Buses and City Buses, and TSR/Taxis will be functional as usual, however, the services of the railways, airways, interstate buses, city buses, and TSR/Taxis may be affected/curtailed.

Metro services shall remain available for commuters at all Metro stations. However, boarding/de-boarding at Supreme Court Metro Station will not be permitted from 05: 00 hrs, on 09.09.2023 to 23: 00 hours on 10.08.2023. Interstate buses will also be allowed entry into Delhi. All such buses will have terminating points on the Ring Road as suggested in the Traffic advisory. City buses will operate on Ring Road and road network beyond Ring Road towards the borders of Delhi.

These buses will be allowed to exit from Delhi. However, the City bus service will not be available in the New Delhi Area. No TSR and Taxi will be allowed to enter or ply in New Delhi District from 05: 00 hours on 09.09.2023 to 23: 59 hours on 10.09.2023.

However, Taxis carrying bonafide residents and tourists having valid bookings in hotels located inside New Delhi District will be allowed to ply on the road network inside New Delhi District. Bonafide residents and authorized vehicles will be allowed to move within New Delhi District. Vehicles dealing with housekeeping, catering, waste management, etc. for hotels, hospitals and other important installations in the New Delhi District will be allowed after verification.

Bonafide residents, authorized vehicles and essential service providers mentioned above will have to carry documents to prove their identity. It is advised to stay updated with official announcements regarding public transportation schedules and any temporary changes.

4. Will there be a lockdown-like situation in Delhi during the G-20 Summit?

There will not be any lockdown-like situation during the G-20 Summit in Delhi. Delhi traffic police have endeavoured to ensure unhindered Metro services and to ensure that all modes of public transport are available with certain regulations. All medical shops, grocery shops, milk booths, and vegetable/fruit shops will remain open throughout Delhi including New Delhi.  General traffic, including all types of commercial vehicles and buses shall be allowed to ply on Ring Road & road network beyond Ring Road towards the borders of Delhi.

5. Will parking be available near Pragati Maidan during the G-20 Summit?

Due to security reasons and the movement of the delegates, parking services near Pragati Maidan will be accessible only to authorized vehicles during the G-20 Summit. It is advised to avoid the use of private vehicles and explore alternative modes of transportation. Commuters are requested to make maximum use of Metro services as Metro service shall remain available for commuters at all metro stations. However, boarding/de-boarding at Supreme Court Metro Station will not be permitted from 05: 00 hours on 09.09.2023 to 23: 00 hours on 10.09.2023.

6. Are there any designated pick-up and drop-off points for private vehicles or taxis near Pragati Maidan during the G-20 Summit?

No TSR and Taxi will be allowed to enter or ply in New Delhi District from 0500 hours on 09.09.2023 to 2359 hours on 10.09.2023. However, Taxi-carrying bonafide residents and tourists having valid bookings in hotels located inside New Delhi District will be allowed to ply on road networks inside New Delhi District.

7. Will there be any special arrangements for public transportation near Pragati Maidan during the G-20 Summit?

Commuters are requested to make maximum use of Metro services as Metro service shall only remain available for commuters near Pragati Maidan as all other modes of transport will be regulated in this area. However, boarding/de-boarding at Supreme Court Metro Station will not be permitted from 0500 hrs on 09.09.2023 to 2300 hours on 10.09.2023.

8. How can commuters plan their travel during the G-20 Summit in Delhi to avoid traffic congestion?

Airport, Railway, Metro services, Interstate Buses and City Buses, and TSR/Taxis will be functional as usual, however, the services of the railways, airways, interstate buses, city buses, and TSR/Taxis may be affected/curtailed. Metro services shall remain available for commuters at all Metro stations. Interstate buses will also be allowed entry into Delhi.

All such buses will have terminating points on the Ring Road as suggested in the Traffic advisory. City buses will operate on Ring Road and road network beyond Ring Road towards the borders of Delhi. These buses will be allowed to exit from Delhi. However, the City bus service will not be available in the New Delhi Area.

No TSR and Taxi will be allowed to enter or ply in New Delhi District from 05:00 hours on 09.09.2023 to 23:59 hours on 10.09.2023. However, Taxis carrying bonafide residents and tourists having valid bookings in hotels located inside New Delhi District will be allowed to ply on the road network inside New Delhi District.

Bonafide residents and authorized vehicles will be allowed to move within New Delhi District. The Delhi Traffic Police and local authorities will provide regular updates on traffic arrangements, diversions and alternate routes through various communication channels such as social media, traffic advisories, and electronic message boards.

9. How long are the anticipated traffic regulations expected to last during the G-20 Summit in Delhi?

There may be some traffic regulations in Delhi depending on security requirements from 07.09.2023 to 11.09.2023. The duration of traffic regulations can vary based on the Summit’s schedule, security requirements and other factors. Traffic regulations are generally expected to last for the duration of the G-20 Summit or as long as necessary to ensure the safety and convenience of the general public.

10. Are there any unique traffic control measures or technologies being implemented during the G-20 Summit in Delhi?

To manage traffic effectively, advanced traffic control measures and technologies may be deployed during the G-20 Summit. These can include smart traffic signals, real-time traffic updates through mobile apps and traffic surveillance systems to ensure smooth flow and minimize congestion.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Delhi Police are conducting a full dress rehearsal today for the G20 Summit, escorting motorcades from different parts of the national capital towards the New Delhi district, officials said.

The timings for the full dress rehearsal are 8:30 am to 12 noon, 4:30 pm to 6 pm, and 7 pm to 11 pm. Commuters have been advised to use metro services as traffic is likely to be affected.

During the motorcade rehearsals, traffic will be restricted at Sardar Patel Marg-Panchsheel Marg, Sardar Patel Marg–Kautilya Marg, Gol Methi roundabout, Mansingh Road roundabout, C-Hexagon, Mathura Road, Zakir Hussain Marg-Subramaniam Bharti Marg, Bhairon Marg-Ring Road, Satya Marg/Shantipath round about, Janpath–Kartavyapath, Barakhamba Road traffic signal, Tolstoy Marg, and Vivekanand Marg, etc, they said.

Commuters may experience more than normal traffic on these roads and junctions and are therefore, requested to plan their journey in advance and avoid these roads during the specified time slots, police said.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)