Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Sept 9: Premier Narendra Modi said on Saturday that the African Union has been admitted as a permanent member of the Group of 20 nations.
PM Modi welcomed the AU, represented by Chairperson Azali Assoumani, to join the G20 leaders as a permanent member during his opening remarks at the 18th G20 Leaders’ Summit.
“With everyone’s approval, I request the AU head to take his seat as a permanent G20 member,” Modi said in his address.
Azali Assoumani, President of the Union of Comoros and Chairperson of the African Union (AU), was greeted by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar as he took a seat among international leaders.
One of India’s top priorities for the current G20 summit was to include the African Union as a member. PM Modi first suggested the idea of bringing the African Union into the G20 grouping in early June.
“Before we start the proceedings of G20, I want to express my condolences over the loss of lives due to an earthquake in Morocco. We pray that all injured recover at the earliest. India is ready to offer all possible assistance to Morocco in this difficult time”, PM Modi said in his inaugural address.
