China says it backs African Union's inclusion in G20
China on Thursday expressed its support for the inclusion of the African Union (AU) in the G20, saying it is the «first country to explicitly support» the inclusion of the African bloc in the grouping. In a recent interview with PTI, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India backs the inclusion of the African Union as a full member of the Group of 20 largest economies as no plan for the future of the planet can be successful without the representation and recognition of all voices.
«China is the first country to explicitly voice support for the AU's accession to G20,» Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing here while replying to a question about reports that AU will be admitted to G20 at the New Delhi summit to be held on September 9-10.
«At the recent China-Africa leaders dialogue, President Xi Jinping once again stressed that China actively supports the full membership of AU in the G20,» said.
Mao said China and AU are important partners in building high-level commentary with a shared future and safeguarding international equity and justice.
«We support the AU in playing a bigger role in global governance,» she said.
In the last few years, India has been positioning itself as a leading voice, flagging concerns, challenges and aspirations of the Global South or the developing nations, especially the African continent.
Prime Minister Modi has been leading from the front on the issue of the African Union's membership of the G20.
