Will highlight 'key' issue of cooperation against black money at G20 summit: PM Modi
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the importance of global cooperation against black money will be a "key issue" he will highlight at the upcoming G20 summit in Brisbane, as he embarks on a three-nation visit from tomorrow.
Seeking to inject momentum in the country's 'Act East' policy, Modi will undertake the 10-day visit of Myanmar, Australia and Fiji to attend key multilateral summits and undertake bilateral meetings during which India is expected to push for steps to create more jobs and improve world economy.
"A key issue for me would be to highlight the importance of international cooperation against black money," Modi said in a pre-departure statement.
As India attempts to unearth black money stashed abroad, Modi is expected to renew the country's commitment to a global response to deal with cross border tax avoidance and evasion.
In the statement, Modi said during the course of the ASEAN-India and East Asian summits in Myanmar Capital Nay Pyi and at the G20 summit in Brisbane and bilateral visits to Australia and Fiji he will meet over 40 leaders from countries representing Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America and Pacific Region.
At the annual summit of the Group of 20 of the world's biggest developed and emerging economies, Modi said he intends to dicuss how it can accelerate creation of next generation infrastructure, which also includes digital infrastructure, and ensure access to clean and affordable energy. The two-day summit will be held from November 15. G20 accounts for 85 per cent of the world's economic output.
During his foreign tour, Modi will undertake a bilateral visit for talks with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott in Canberra after the G20 summit.
Modi will be the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Australia in 28 years since Rajiv Gandhi in 1986.
"While we have much in common with Australia, our political, strategic and economic relations have been below potential.
A closer strategic partnership with Australia will support India's economic goals; promote our security interests, including maritime security; and, reinforce our efforts to foster a climate of peace and stability in our extended continental and maritime neighbourhood," he said referring to his four-city, three-day visit from November 16 that covers Melbourne and Sydney besides Melbourne and Canberra.
Modi will travel to Fiji on a day-long visit on November 19 before returning home the next day. He will be the first Indian Premier to visit the south Pacific Island nation after a gap of 33 years, the first being Indira Gandhi in 1981.
The tour will begin in Myanmar capital Nay Pyi Taw, where Modi will attend the ASEAN-India summit and the East Asia Summit on November 12-13. From there, he will go to Brisbane for the G-20 summit and then proceed to Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne during the course of his bilateral visit from November 16 to 18.
Modi will have talks with Aussie Premier Tony Abbott and address a joint sitting of Federal Parliament in Canberra. This will be the second meeting between the two leaders after Abbott visited India last month.
Abbott will host a reception for Modi at the iconic 161-year-old Melbourne Cricket Ground(MCG). Modi is also due to address the Indian community at a reception at the Olympic park in Sydney.
"My Australia visit is both special & historic. It will be 1st bilateral visit to Australia by an Indian PM in 28 years," Modi said in a recent tweet.
Briefing newsmen on Modi's visit to Australia, Anil Wadhwa, Secretary(East) in the Ministry of External Affairs said today the Prime Minister's trip will be a "landmark visit" and is aimed at "re-engaging" that country.
At the G20 summit, Modi is expected to voice his concerns over "jobless growth" in his interventions, stresssing that economic growth should also create employment.
"Focusing on transforming the quality of life of people, not just on issues like the health of the financial markets, is necessary to create employment-generating economic growth," Modi had said when Abbott telephoned him last Friday to discuss the agenda for the Brisbane summit.
The G20 looks to meet a two per cent increase to its combined growth over five years through economic reform and infrastructure investment. It accounts for 80 per cent of world trade and 85 per cent of global economic production.
As India attempts to unearth black money stashed abroad, Modi is also expected to renew the country's commitment to a global response to deal with cross border tax avoidance and evasion.
At the summit with Southeast asian nations and the East Asia summit in Myanmar capital Nay Pyi Taw, Modi is expected to pitch for improving connectivity in the region to give a boost to trade and people-to-people contact.
