G20 summit: PM Narendra Modi likely to meet Rishi Sunak, Emmanuel Macron in Bali

Prime Minister Narendra Modi may meet UK PM Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali next week, as India eyes to expedite the free trade agreement (FTA) with the UK and expand strategic partnership with France.

Modi is scheduled to visit Bali from November 14 to16. His meeting with the UK PM would be the first in-person meeting between the two leaders. Sunak, Britain's first Indian-origin PM, had spoken to Modi after being appointed as PM last month. Early conclusion of negotiations of India-UK FTA will top the agenda of the possible meeting, according to people familiar with the matter. Modi shares a good rapport with Macron and the proposed meeting in Bali would help to expand strategic ties. France has recently issued its National Strategic Review 2022 and India figures high on its agenda.

Macron is planning to visit India early next year while the French defence minister is planning to arrive here later this year.


A meeting with Indonesia's President Joko Widodo is also on the cards in Bali.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden's first physical meeting with Chinese Preside nt Xi Jinping will be closely followed across the globe amid heightened tensions.

Last week Modi launched the logo and theme of India's G20 presidency. The logo, which has the colours of the Indian national flag, juxtaposes planet earth with the lotus, India's national flower.

"India's G20 presidency is coming at a time of crisis and chaos in the world. World is going through the after-effects of a disruptive, once in a century pandemic," Modi said. "Symbol of the lotus is a representation of hope in these times."

Under the Indian presidency, 200 G20 meetings will take place across the country beginning December.