New Delhi: The G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting that begins in New Delhi tomorrow is one of the largest gatherings of foreign ministers hosted by any G20 presidency, with over 40 delegations expected to participate, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said today.

The G20 meet will begin with a gala dinner being held tonight. It is the second ministerial being held under India’s presidency, with the Finance Ministers’ Meeting being held in Bengaluru last week.

The Foreign Ministers’ Meeting is being held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre.

The G20 members are: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US, and the EU.

Nine guest countries are participating: Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain and the UAE.

Besides 13 international organisations are also participating.

“It is one of the largest gatherings of foreign ministers hosted by any G20 presidency,” FS Kwatra said at a special briefing here.

The theme of India’s presidency is ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ or ‘One Earth · One Family · One Future’.

During the Foreign Ministers’ meeting, EAM Jaishankar will be chairing to sessions. The first will focus on two-three principle sub items-- relating to multilateralism, on food and energy security, and on templates of development cooperation.

The second session will be on new and emerging threats, the challenges of countering terrorism, narcotics; and on global skill mapping - how the G20 can pool efforts, focus on global talent pool, and on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief.

The agenda of the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting is also on the G20 priorities, which includes inclusive and resilient growth, progress on SDGs, the rubric of green development and LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), and tech transformation. This will include full range of discussion on how G20 members can come together and contribute to public society, on women led development, etc.

On the sidelines EAM Jaishankar will meet his counterparts from other countries, and this would be an opportunity to discuss issues of bilateral importance, the FS said.

At the end of G20, the visiting ministers from G20 and guest countries are expected to get an opportunity to call on PM Narendra Modi, he added.

On the Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi not attending the meeting, FS Kwatra said India and Japan have enjoyed sterling cooperation when it comes to deliberations in G20. He said the Japanese FM is “not able to come perhaps due to domestic compulsions”.

“We are looking forward to active support, and consultations with the Japanese delegation that is coming, and we value their participation and their contribution…

“Our partnership with Japan and what we do in G20 is of great value to us, and we have no doubt the Japanese delegation’s participation will bring tremendous value to the discussions,” he added.

On whether Ukraine is being invited, the FS said that India has already announced the countries that are being invited as guests, and added "there are no additions as of now".

(With UNI inputs)