G20 Summit: African Union now becomes permanent member,announces PM Modi
PM Modi invited the African Union (AU) to join the G20 as a permanent member as the first session of the Summit begins in New-Delhi
New-Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday invited the African Union (AU) to join the G20 as a permanent member as the first session of the Summit begins in New-Delhi.
PM Modi and external affairs minister S Jaishankar welcomed African Union chair and Comoros President Azali Assoumani to officially join the bloc at the G20 Summit in Delhi.
Modi, in his opening remarks at the summit, invited the AU, represented by Chairperson Azali Assoumani, to take a seat at the table of G20 leaders as a permanent member.
“India put a proposal to give permanent membership of G20 to the African Union. I believe that with we have everyone’s agreement on this,” Modi said.
“With everyone’s approval, I request the African Union head to take his seat as a permanent G20 member,” he added.
The African Union, a continental body of 55 member states, now has the same status as the European Union – the only regional bloc with a full membership. Its previous designation was “invited international organisation”.
Ms Kalinga