Reddy: G20 CMM to catalyse collective actions for accelerating progress

Union Minister for Tourism and Culture G Krishna Reddy said the G20 Cultural Ministers’ Meeting (CMM) to be held on Saturday will be an opportunity to catalyse collective actions for accelerating progress on the four priority areas articulated by the Indian Presidency- protection and restitution of cultural property, harnessing living heritage for a sustainable future, promotion of cultural and creative industries and creative economy and leveraging digital technologies for the protection and promotion of culture. He was talking to mediapersons on the eve of G20 CMM here on Friday.

He said that in 2020 under the Saudi Arabian Presidency, the culture ministers met for the first time on the sidelines of the G20. In 2021 Culture was formalised as a working group during the Italian Presidency, leading to the inaugural G20 CMM and the consequential Rome Culture Ministers’ Declaration. The ‘Bali Declaration’ of 2022 under the Indonesian presidency further stressed the role of culture in sustainable development. In Varanasi, this would be the fourth time that the Culture Ministers of the G20 members and invitee countries would be meeting. According to him, the CMM will also adopt the Draft Declaration which was discussed by the Cultural Working Group (CWG) during its two days meeting in this holy city. He said that as India gears up for the G20 Leaders’ Summit, it aspires to adopt outcomes by consensus that places culture at the heart of policymaking, leveraging its interplay with other key policy areas such as trade, tourism and digital sectors. Union Minister of State for Culture Meenakashi Lekhi said that the gathering provided all of us to have a cultural connection, make a collective and positive commitment, adopt cultural diplomacy for understanding each other better and set a global narrative for sustainable development. She also attended and addressed the fourth CWG meeting on the second and last day which had the discussions on the draft declaration. She said that the first two CWG meetings have enabled the CWG to build a working dynamic across the membership, which was enriched by the outcomes of the Global Thematic Webinars.

The 3rd CWG in Hampi was a pivotal moment that shaped the trajectory of the CWG’s work and solidified the commitment to collective action and the shaping of the working documents. She said this holy city which is known as the cultural capital of the country is a better place for such a meeting in which 159 delegates from G20 states, invited countries and six international organisations. The delegates who visited Sarnath a day ago watched the Ganga Aarti in the evening during the day. They will also watch the G20 Global Orchestra performance titled ‘Sur Vasudha’ celebrating the rich musical knowledge and heritage of G20 member nations and invitee countries at Rudraksh International Convention Centre on Saturday.

CM arriving today

Chief Minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath will arrive in the city here on Saturday. Apart from reviewing the progress of development works and doing on-site inspection of some projects, he is likely to meet the representatives of G20 countries who are taking part in the G20 Cultural Working Group (CWG) meeting here these days. Meanwhile, Union Minister for Tourism and Culture G Kishan Reddy arrived in the city on Friday and was welcomed by District Magistrate (DM) S Rajalingam and other senior officers when he landed at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport at Babatpur. Before him Union Minister of State for Culture Meenakashi Lekhi came here and attended the G20 CWG meeting.

Besides, there will also be a gathering of ministers from the Centre and state as Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal arrived in the city on Friday afternoon and he will return to Delhi at on Saturday. UP Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh also came to Varanasi from Delhi during the day to attend the G20 meeting. Apart from them, Uttar Pradesh Tourism and Culture Minister and Minister in-charge of Varanasi district Jaiveer Singh will arrive in the city from Lucknow at 3.30 pm on Saturday. He will visit Sarnath at 6.30 am on August 27 and then return to Lucknow.