G20, the work of foreign ministers in Matera

The meeting of the G20 foreign ministers chaired by Luigi Di Maio, the second meeting of a three-day event that, according to him, makes Italy “the crossroads of important decisions at a global level” is underway in Matera. Multilateralism, Africa and food security were the central themes of the meeting of the heads of diplomats of the Group of the main economies of the world, followed for the first time by a joint session with the development ministers. In the Lucanian city, where they arrived from Bari on board a special train of the Lucanian Apulian Railways, there are 32 ministers and heads of delegation: physically absent the head of Chinese diplomacy Wang Yi, who will connect by videoconference, and the Russian Sergei Lavrov , who sent his deputy, in addition to the Australian and Brazilian ministers, due to the anti-Covid restrictions. “I can’t wait to discuss how we can cooperate to fight the pandemic, tackle the climate crisis and support a more inclusive economic recovery and sustainable, “US Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted. The meeting of foreign ministers is divided into two sessions: the first concerns the theme of global governance and multilateralism, a key tool for addressing the main global challenges and promoting a sustainable and resilient recovery. The international response to Covid has in fact confirmed the importance of a cooperative approach at an international level, an alternative to the “nationalization” of interventions. The second session is dedicated to relations with the African continent, with a thematic focus on sustainable development and focuses on the most appropriate policy measures in some important sectors including those of the inclusion of young people and women, trade exchanges, the fight against climate change and the energy transition. In order to ensure alignment with the general narrative of the program of the Italian Presidency of the G20, both themes on the agenda were developed starting from the three pillars “People, Planet, Prosperity” and in harmony with the theme of the “build back” better “, aimed at promoting a sustainable, inclusive and resilient recovery. In this perspective, a joint meeting of foreign and development ministers will be held in the afternoon for the first time in the history of the G20, which will be followed, again for the first time, a specific session of development ministers only, Wednesday in Brindisi. With the joint ministerial, the Italian presidency intends to bring the global situation of food security and nutrition to the center of the international political agenda, thus providing the political impetus and momentum necessary for concrete actions to tackle food crises and achieve the Zero goal. Hunger by 2030. The Matera Ministerial Declaration will be adopted at the end. Di Maio: Italy supports effective multilateralism “” Italy supports effective multilateralism and a rules-based international order, with the United Nations at the center “. Minister Di Maio said opening the work of the G20 in Matera, where the first session is dedicated precisely to the theme of multilateralism and global governance. effective multilateral system ‘, founded on common goals and values. The reform processes promoted by Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who has just been confirmed for a second mandate, aim to ensure that the Organization continues to live up to this important task, making it more efficient, democratic, transparent, representative and responsible “. “The Covid-19 pandemic – Di Maio recalled – highlighted the need for a coordinated international response to emergencies that transcend national borders. In an interconnected world, multilateralism and international cooperation are the only truly effective tools in the face of global challenges “. The minister cites the case of vaccines:” Italy was among the first countries to call for an international alliance for health response to the pandemic. Also on an Italian impulse, the Access to Covid-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) was born, the main global collaboration platform to fight the pandemic.

“Countering the health, social and economic impact of the pandemic and promoting a sustainable, inclusive and resilient recovery”. These are the objectives of the Italian presidency of the G20 reaffirmed by the minister. “Free, fair, inclusive trade based on respect for shared rules is essential to fight the pandemic and promote a sustainable recovery, which makes our economies greener and more digital” , the minister reiterated, underlining how the pandemic has “highlighted the vulnerabilities of the commercial system and global value chains”. “Also in view of the twelfth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, which will start at the end of the year, and in line with the commitments made at the last Summits, the G20 must continue to provide strong support for the reform of the Organization – said the head of the Farnesina – As presidency of the G20, Italy works intensively to accompany this process and foster a broad international convergence on the relaunch of trade and investments, with particular attention to strengthening the value chains of healthcare products , environmental sustainability, internationalization and innovation of small and medium-sized enterprises “. G20, who are the member countries The member countries of the G20, which together represent 80% of world GDP, 75% of trade and 60% of the population, they are: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union. Spain is invited as a permanent guest.