Time to collectively build a ‘Green Era’, PM Modi tells G7 leaders

Apulia (Italy), June 15 (IANS) Emphasising collective efforts to create a ‘Green Era’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that India’s approach in the field of energy is based on four principles — availability, accessibility, affordability, and acceptability.

PM Modi highlighted India’s commitment to green energy and sustainability at the Outreach Session of the G7 Summit underway in Italy.

“India is the first country to fulfil all the commitments taken under COP before time. We are making every effort to fulfil our commitment to achieve the target of Net Zero by 2070. Together we should try to make the coming time a Green Era,” the Prime Minister told the world leaders.

For this, India has started Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) — a global mass movement to nudge individual and community action to protect and preserve the environment.

“Moving forward on this mission, on June 5 (World Environment Day), I launched a campaign — ‘Ek Pedh Maa Ke Naam’ (One tree for every mother),” the Prime Minister added.

On Global South, PM Modi said it is India’s responsibility to put the priorities and concerns of the countries of the Global South on the world stage.

“In these efforts, we have given high priority to Africa. We are proud that under India’s presidency, the G-20 made the African Union a permanent member,” said PM Modi.

“India has been contributing to the economic and social development, stability and security of all the countries of Africa, and will continue to do so,” he added.

It is our resolve to build developed India by 2047: PM Modi at G7 Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said it is our resolve to build a developed India (Viksit Bharat) by 2047, adding that India is among the first few nations to formulate a national strategy on artificial intelligence (AI).  

Addressing the G7 Outreach Session attended by top world leaders, PM Modi said that it was our commitment that no section of society should be left behind.

He stressed that it is our resolve to build a developed India by 2047.

“We are making every possible effort to fulfil our commitment to achieve the target of Net Zero by 2070,” PM Modi told the gathering.

Together, “we should make efforts to make the coming time a ‘Green Era’,” PM Modi stated.

Drawing attention to challenges faced by countries of the Global South, he said that India considers it its responsibility to put the priorities and concerns of countries of the Global South on the world stage.

PM Modi held key bilateral meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Admiring his commitment to serve people, the Prime Minister extended an invitation to Pope Francis to visit India at an early date. French President Macron hailed the momentum in Indo-French cooperation in several fields following his bilateral meeting with PM Modi on the sidelines of the 50th G7 Summit. In his meeting with PM Sunak, PM Modi said it was a delight to meet him in Italy.

“I reiterated my commitment to further strengthen the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the third term of the NDA Government. There is great scope to deepen ties in sectors like semiconductors, technology and trade. We also talked about further cementing ties in the defence sector,” PM Modi posted on X after the meeting.

PM Modi lauds Pope Francis’ commitment to serve people, invites him to visit India

Admiring his commitment to serve people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday extended an invitation to Pope Francis to visit India at an early date.

“Met Pope Francis on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. I admire his commitment to serve people and make our planet better. Also invited him to visit India,” the Prime Minister posted on X after meeting the Pope at the G7 Summit’s Outreach Session in Borgo Egnazia.  

As he entered the meeting venue and met the world leaders, the Pope was greeted with a hug from PM Modi.  

In October 2021, the Pope received PM Modi during a private audience at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, which was also the first meeting between an Indian Prime Minister and the Pope in more than two decades.

In June 2000, late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had last visited the Vatican and met the then Pope, John Paul II.

India and The Holy See have friendly relations dating back to the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1948. India is also home to the second-largest Catholic population in Asia.

Delhi Archbishop hails PM Modi’s interaction with Pope Francis at G7 Summit

Anil Joseph Thomas Couto, the Archbishop of Delhi, and General Secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), on Friday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interaction with Pope Francis at the G7 Summit’s Outreach Session in Borgo Egnazia, Italy.

Admiring his commitment to serve people, Prime Minister Modi also extended an invitation to Pope Francis to visit India at an early date.

“Met Pope Francis on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. I admire his commitment to serve people and make our planet better. Also invited him to visit India,” the Prime Minister posted on X after meeting the Pope.  

“The meeting of our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi with His Holiness Pope Francis on the sidelines of the G7 meeting of world leaders is a very good gesture symbolising the clear intent of our Prime Minister to be a world leader ensuring justice, peace and freedom in every part of the world, and especially to uphold the Constitution of India in letter and spirit to build a strong and vibrant India,” Archbishop Couto said on Friday evening.

Meanwhile, as the Pope entered the meeting venue and met the world leaders, he was greeted with a hug from PM Modi.  

In October 2021, the Pope received PM Modi during a private audience at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, which was also the first meeting between an Indian Prime Minister and the Pope in more than two decades.

In June 2000, late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had last visited the Vatican and met the then Pope, John Paul II.

India and The Holy See have friendly relations dating back to the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1948. India is also home to the second-largest Catholic population in Asia.