LEAD

After months of anticipation, world leaders from US President Joe Biden, to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reached New Delhi and kickstarted the colorful and mega G20 Summit. Folk dancers, and an array of ministers welcomed them, as security forces kept an hawk-eye vigil for the country’s first such event under it’s presidency.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said G20 this year will chart a new path in the human-centric and inclusive development and expressed confidence that the guests “will enjoy the warmth of Indian hospitality.”

India is on high alert with the G20 Summit set to kick start on Friday. Top world leaders including US President Joe Biden, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, among other delegates will arrive in Delhi within the next 24 hours for the premier forum meet for international economic cooperation. Stringent traffic regulations have been put in place in the New Delhi district, with online delivery services, except for medicines, barred in the area where the summit venue and hotels for delegates are located.

The G20 Leaders’ Summit will be held on September 9-10. The summit is set to be attended by more than 30 heads of state and top officials from the European Union and invited guest countries and 14 heads of international organisations.

On Thursday, Biden will travel to New Delhi to attend the G20 Summit. He will participate in a bilateral meeting Friday with Modi and attend the Summit sessions on Saturday and Sunday.

As the United States confirmed Wednesday that President Joe Biden will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi Friday, ahead of the G20 Summit over the weekend, The Indian Express has learnt that the government is considering inviting leaders of the Quad grouping for the Republic Day celebrations next year.

A final call, sources said, will be taken only after ascertaining the availability of the leaders — President Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

The G20 dinner invitations sent out by President Droupadi Murmu describing her position as 'President of Bharat' instead of the customary 'President of India' has kicked off a political storm in the country.

The opposition alleged that the move was reflective of the BJP being scared of the INDIA bloc, while the ruling party asserted that there was nothing wrong in using Bharat as it is part of the Constitution.

The opposition parties also have alleged that the Modi government is planning to drop India and stay with just Bharat as the country's name.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang will lead the country's delegation at the G20 summit in New Delhi on September 9 & 10, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday.

Ning, however, did not provide any reason for President Xi's absence from the high-profile conclave hosted by India.

"At the invitation of the government of the Republic of India, Premier of the state council Li Qiang will attend the 18th G20 Summit to be held in New Delhi, India, on September 9 and 10," the statement read.