PM Narendra Modi heads straight to Hamburg from Israel for G-20 meet

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with the premiers of Japan, South Korea and half a dozen other countries at the G-20 Summit in Germany later this week. The PM has a packed five-day schedule with nearly 40 engagements in Israel and Germany starting Tuesday, officials said. PM is arriving in Hamburg from Israel on July 6 for the G-20 meet.

A BRICS leaders “Informal meeting” of 45 minutes is scheduled the next morning where premiers of India and China will be present. After that, the PM will leave for the G-20 Leaders Retreat where the topic of discussion is ‘fighting terrorism’.

Modi will be meeting Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe that day for a 30-minute bilateral meeting and South Korean President Moon Jae on the following day. Bilateral meetings of Modi are also likely with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, UK, Canada, Mexico, Argentina and Vietnam, top officials said. Modi will take part in G-20 sessions like ‘Global Growth and Trade’, ‘Sustainable Development Climate and Energy’, ‘Partnership with Africa, Migration and Health’ and ‘Digitalisation, Women’s Empowerment, Employment’.

A western classical music concert is also on cards for the leaders at Hamburg Harbour. In Israel, PM is visiting both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The 26/11 survivor baby, Moshe Holtzberg, with his family members, is scheduled to meet the PM in King David hotel on Wednesday for 10 minutes. Modi will also meet Indian-American Bharat Barai separately who had played a big part in organising Modi’s 2014 Madison Square Garden event.

Barai is a Pravasi Bhartiya Samman (PBS) Award winner. PM will separately also meet three other PBS awardees living in Israel.