Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni shared a memorable moment of laughter and warm greetings at the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. The candid exchange between the two leaders, which included hearty laughs and handshakes, drew attention during the summit’s opening session. These light-hearted interactions underscore the personal diplomacy often seen at high-level international gatherings. PM Modi also engaged in warm embraces with other world leaders, notably Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, highlighting strong relationships on the global stage. His arrival in Johannesburg was met with a vibrant cultural welcome, including traditional performances and a special program by the Indian diaspora celebrating ‘Rhythms of a United India’. At the summit, Prime Minister Modi advocated for a global shift towards inclusive and sustainable development models, emphasizing the need to learn from civilizational wisdom, especially for regions historically facing resource challenges. He presented India’s ‘Integral Humanism’ as a guiding principle for balanced growth and put forth three key proposals: a traditional knowledge repository, a skills enhancement program for Africa, and a collaborative initiative to combat the drug-terror nexus.
