As Japan Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi has decided to skip the G-20 summit being hosted by India this year, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said that he was not able to come because of his domestic compulsions.
Addressing a press conference, Kwatra said that India is looking forward to active participation and support in consultation with the Japanese delegation that is coming.
“We undertsand that the Japanese Foreign Minister is not able to come because of his domestic compulsions but we are looking forward to a very active participation, active support in consultation with the Japanese delegation that is coming,” he said.
The two-day G20 foreign ministers meeting will begin this evening and the main discussions on pressing global challenges will take place on Thursday.
Japan’s Foreign Minister will not attend the meeting. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kenji Yamada will represent Japan at the meetings.
Around 40 delegations, including 13 from international organisations, are expected to participate in the meeting.
The India-hosted meeting will be attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, France’s Catherine Colonna, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, Germany’s Annalena Baerbock and British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.
A host of foreign ministers of non-G20 countries, including that of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, will also participate in the meet following India’s invitation as guests.
“G20 foreign ministers meet under India’s G20 presidency will be held tomorrow. This would be second ministerial meeting held under our presidency. The venue will be Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Center. 40 delegations are expected to participate,” said Kwatra.
