Tokyo: Foreign Minister S Jaishankar has said a big thing on the question of leadership of the Global South. He said that 125 countries in the region trust India. Whereas China did not consider it appropriate to participate in the two meetings organized by India in the interest of the countries of the Global South in 2023. Also read: 125 countries of the Global South trust India, Foreign Minister Jaishankar has shown India's strength to the world on the world stage. 125 countries of the Global South trust India, Foreign Minister Jaishankar has shown India's strength to the world on the world stage. The Global South refers to the group of developing and poor countries located in the southern part of the world. In the Nikkei Forum organized on India-Japan relations, Jaishankar said that the countries of the Global South have many similar problems. This was realized during the Covid pandemic when there was a shortage of vaccines that could protect them. Also read: First wedding after legalizing gay marriage in Greece, gay couple says 'triumph of love' First wedding after legalizing gay marriage in Greece, gay couple says 'triumph of love' Global South Expectations of the countries: He said, those countries came to know about the agenda of G-20 when India became the chairperson of this group of major countries. Therefore, last year we held two meetings on the problems and aspirations of the countries of the Global South so that the 125 deprived countries could also connect with the rest of the world. Asia and Africa Most of the countries in this group belong to Asia and Africa. Under the chairmanship of India, the countries included in the African Union got membership of G-20. This was a new opportunity for him to gain recognition at the global level. But the Chinese leadership was missing from this occasion. President Xi Jinping did not attend the event attended by global leaders; He tried to downplay the importance of the G20 by sending Prime Minister Li Qiang. Where were the rest of the countries? In response to a question regarding the Ukraine war, Jaishankar said that many times in world politics issues and questions are framed in a convenient manner. The questions being raised today regarding Ukraine's sovereignty were absent in the decades after India's independence. Then India was attacked and our land was captured but no one supported us. A part of India is occupied by another country. He said that even today a part of India is under the occupation of other countries but no country is saying anything about it. Then why try to gain world support by solving a convenient issue? Why are those questioning India's role forgetting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the only leader who has directly told President Putin that India wants an end to the Ukraine war. India helps others despite huge responsibilities. Speaking to Japanese media, Jaishankar also talked about India's strong sense of helping others. Said that India gave huge assistance of four and a half billion dollars to crisis-hit Sri Lanka, whereas the International Monetary Fund gave it less than three billion dollars. Apart from this, India helps poor and developing countries wherever needed. India provides this assistance while fulfilling its big responsibilities, because the per capita annual income in India is less than three thousand dollars. Meeting Shinzo Abe's wife: External Affairs Minister Jaishankar on Friday met Aki Abe, wife of late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and handed her a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The letter also expressed grief over the recent death of former Prime Minister Yoko Abe's mother. Shinzo Abe was shot dead in Japan while campaigning in July 2022. Abe was the longest serving Prime Minister of Japan and played an important role in enhancing strategic cooperation with India

March 9, 2024 World