New Delhi - Congress leader Shashi Tharoor commended Amitabh Kant, India's G20 Sherpa, for his negotiations with China and Russia to secure a unified declaration from G20 leaders regarding the Ukraine conflict. Tharoor noted that it was a proud moment for India at the G20.

The G20 leaders had differing opinions on how to respond to Russia's actions in Ukraine, and extensive negotiations were required to reach a joint communique. These negotiations involved bilateral meetings with Russia and China and consultations with emerging nations on the economic consequences of the conflict.

Amitabh Kant, former head of Niti Aayog, emphasized the importance of working with sherpas and credited the combined efforts of emerging markets, led by India, Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia, Mexico, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, for bringing G7 countries to the negotiating table.

A significant achievement during the G20 Leaders' Summit was the unanimous endorsement of the role of tourism and culture in sustainable socio-economic development and prosperity, according to the Ministry of Tourism.

The Goa Roadmap for Tourism, a key deliverable of India's G20 tourism track, outlines challenges, objectives, opportunities, and recommendations for sustainable tourism aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030. The Ministry of Tourism plans to launch a national competition on 'Tourism for Tomorrow' to identify best practices aligned with the Goa Roadmap's priorities.

Additionally, the Ministry envisions transforming and promoting the host cities of the G20 Meetings in India into "global MICE destinations" for national and international meetings.

Tharoor also shared his thoughts on the G20 Summit, highlighting the diplomatic success in achieving a joint communique despite initial doubts. However, he expressed concerns about the shutdown of Delhi during the summit and the exclusion of senior Opposition figures from the proceedings. Tharoor emphasized the importance of tangible outcomes from the summit, including the inclusion of the African Union as a new member and the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor. He noted that effective implementation would determine the success of these initiatives. Tharoor also discussed the government's utilization of the G20 Summit for political purposes, highlighting the unusual use of such events in a democracy.