Speeches / Statements

Remarks by EAM at the launch of G5 website

06/07/2009

Excellencies the Ambassadors of Brazil, China, Mexico and the High Commissioner of South Africa,

Members of the media,

Foreign Secretary Shri Shivshankar Menon,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am very pleased to be here on the occasion of the launch of the website of the G5. This is an important and timely initiative, coming just 2 days before the G5 Summit, and will showcase the achievements of the interaction of our 5 countries over the last couple of years. The website will also serve to provide greater visibility to our group. I would like to commend the efforts that have been put in by the Government of Mexico in preparing this website which will provide a platform for communicating amongst our countries.

2. Our five countries started interacting in the context of the G8 Outreach Summits in order to coordinate positions on various pressing global issues on the agenda of these Outreach Summits. At the same time, through our interaction over the years, we have developed synergies on various issues of global concern such as food security, climate change, energy security, development, international trade and others.

3. As a result of this cooperation, we have emerged as a cohesive group of 5 major developing economies with considerable influence over today's pressing global issues. Apart from interacting in the context of the G8 Outreach Summits, we are all members of the G20 which is addressing the current global economic and financial crisis. Our coordination in this context is equally important given the reach and depth of the current global economic and financial crisis and the urgent need for the reform of International Financial Institutions to ensure both a sustainable recovery from the current crisis and also to prevent recurrence of such crises in future.

4. Through our coordination in the context of the reform of global institutions be it the UN, IMF, World Bank or FAO, we can present the perspectives of the developing countries at various international fora and effectively voice their concerns.

5. Our interactions at various levels, including the meetings at the level of Heads of State/Government, Foreign Ministers and teleconferences amongst our vice Ministers have helped develop better understanding among our countries on many global issues of mutual concern. We have also been working closely in the context of the Heiligendamm Process to reach a common understanding with the G8 countries on some delicate issues such as IPRs, Energy Efficiency and others. We will continue to do so during the next phase of the Heiligendamm Process i.e. the Heiligendamm-L'Aquila Process.

6. Once again I would like to express my appreciation for the Mexican efforts in preparing this website of the G5 countries. I also take the opportunity to greet my G5 counterparts on this occasion, and conclude with the hope that our partnership in this important grouping will help all our 5 countries in their search for socio-economic development.

7. I will now formally launch the G-5 website.

New Delhi
July 06, 2009