PM Modi invites President of African Union & Comoros Azali Assoumani to join other G20 leaders as African Union becomes a permanent member of the G20. Twitter/@g20org

“Thrilled to have the African Union as a permanent member. A milestone for the G20 family indeed,” said Prime Minister Modi on Saturday at the inaugural session of G20 Summit 2023 in New Delhi.

“Advancing a more inclusive G20 that echoes the aspirations of the Global South!” the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi has also shared a video post on X, formerly Twitter, of him welcoming the African Union as a  permanent member of the G20 family and said, “This will strengthen the G20 and also strengthen the voice of the Global South.”

The African Union Saturday joined the G20 after all member countries accepted PM Modi’s proposal to bring the key bloc of the Global South to the high table of the world’s top economies.

The move is seen as a major diplomatic achievement of India’s presidency.

In his inaugural remarks at the G20 summit, PM Modi asked the President of the Union of Comoros and Chairperson of the African Union (AU), Azali Assoumani, to join other leaders at the high table, making the 55-member bloc the second multi-nation grouping after the European Union to be a permanent member of the G20.

“In keeping with the sentiment of ‘sabka saath’ (with everyone), India had proposed that the African Union should be given permanent membership of the G20. I believe we all are in agreement on this proposal…,” the Indian Prime Minister said.

“Before moving forward with the proceedings, I would like to invite the president of the African Union to take his place as a permanent member of the G20,” he said amid thunderous applause by world leaders gathered at the Bharat Mandapam, the venue of the Summit.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar then escorted Assoumani to take his seat at the G20 high table. Before taking his seat, Assoumani shared a warm handshake and hug with Prime Minister Modi.

With inputs from agencies