Addressing the two-day G20 Foreign Ministers' meeting being held in New Delhi under the stewardship of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pointed out that "multilateralism is in crisis" and "global governance has failed" because multilateral organizations have been unsuccessful in addressing the pressing issues of the world.
He also stressed that the consequences of the failure of multilateralism were being felt by developing nations.
Prime Minister Modi said that the world has been ravaged by the effects of climate change, terrorism, COVID-19, the financial crisis, and military confrontations.
It clearly shows, he said, the failure of "global governance" in the last few years.
"We must all acknowledge that multilateralism is in crisis today...The experience of the last few years - financial crisis, climate change, pandemic, terrorism and wars - clearly shows that global governance has failed," he said.
Modi sought to warn that the world is at risk of going back on its promises made about "sustainable development". He mentioned that a number of developing nations are struggling to "ensure food and energy security" for their people.
"After years of progress, we are at a risk today of moving back on the sustainable development goals."
He said many developing countries are struggling with unsustainable debts while trying to ensure food and energy security. "They are also most affected by global warming caused by richer countries."
In an emotional appeal to the world leaders, the Indian Prime Minister asked them to end their differences over divisive issues and resolve them through consensus.
"We are meeting at a time of deep global divisions. We have a responsibility to those, not in this room. We should not allow issues that we cannot resolve together to come in the way of those we can," Modi stated.
"We must focus on what unites us, not on what divides us," he summed up.
Indian Prime Minister Modi's remarks at the G20 meeting come amid the ongoing NATO-Russia proxy conflict in Ukraine.
While Washington and its partners blame Russian leadership for launching an "unprovoked and unjustified war" on Ukraine, Moscow accuses the US and its western allies of triggering and prolonging the confrontation. Notably, the US has supplied weapons worth $100 billion to Kiev since Moscow's special operation began last year.
The G20 Foreign Ministers' meeting is being held at the iconic Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace located in New Delhi.
Other than the G20 nations, which feature the largest economies of the world, including the European Union, foreign ministers of nine special invitees -- the UAE, Singapore, Bangladesh, Netherlands, Nigeria, Spain, Oman, Mauritius, and Egypt -- are also attending the summit.