For territorial gain. But theres no reference to russian aggression. It reads, in part, quote we highlighted the Human Suffering and negative added impacts of the war in ukraine with regard to global food and energy security, supply chains, Macro Financial stability, inflation and growth. The text from last years summit reads, in part the 620 deplores in the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation against ukraine and demands its complete and unconditional withdrawal from the territory of ukraine. We should note two key leaders were missing russian president Vladimir Putin and his key ally, chinese president xijinping. Disagreements over language on ukraine threatened to overshadow the 620 this year, as south asia correspondent Yogita Limaye explains. During the 620 summit in bali last year, member countries took a very long time to agree on the wording regarding the war in ukraine, so that was expected this time around as well. In fact, there were worries about whether there would be consensus on any statement at all. And so, its quite clear that given that the statement has actually come out earlier than expected a day earlier than expected that negotiations on what could be said in that paragraph about the war in ukraine started actually before the meetings in delhi began. Significantly watered down from what we saw in bali last year. No mention of russia, the Russian Federation, or of moscow. Mainly saying that states shouldnt be using force against territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of other states. Also saying the threat of use, or the use, of Nuclear Weapons is inadmissible. But if you compare that to what was said in bali last year, where they didnt really have a form of wording that reflected everyone� s opinion. So there were sentences like most Countries Deplore what was described then as russian aggression in ukraine. So its unsurprising that ukraine is disappointed by the statement and saying that its nothing to be proud of. When asked about the watering down of that portion of the statement, Indias External Affairs minister, sjaishankar, said its a different time this year compared to last time, the circumstances are different. He also said developing countries have taken the lead this time around to accomplish consensus on that wording. The other big outcome of this meeting in delhi is the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member of the 620. This is something that india and its Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, have been advocating very strongly for. Prime minister modi had written to members of the 620, saying that multilateral institutions and groupings, they need to be more representative and fair. So domestically, in india, this is a big win. Its going to market it as a big win, especially since it wants to project itself as the voice of developing countries around the world. Lets take a moment to focus on the origins of this key annual summit of the worlds 20 largest economies. The 620 was formed two years after the 1997 Asian Financial crisis, in response to thailand devaluing its currency and the resulting deep recession in much of east asia. Originally, the 620 was a forum for the Finance Ministers and central bank 6overnors to discuss Global Economic and financial issues. But by 2008, Heads Of State and government began meeting to address the 2007 financial crisis. And in 2009, the 620 summit became an annual forum focused notjust on economic issues, but sustainable development, health, environment and anti corruption. The 620 is comprised of 19 countries and the european union. And together, its Member Nations account for an estimated 86 of the worlds Gross Domestic Product and two thirds of its population. This year, the 620 also welcomed the African Union as a permanent member on saturday, in a historic expansion of the economic bloc. The African Union a continental body of 55 Member States now has the same status as the european union. This marks the first expansion of the 620 since it was formed, in 1999. Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the 620, leaders announced plans to create a modern day spice route, linking europe, The Middle East and india. The new rail and shipping corridor would help the flow of energy and trade by cutting shipping times, costs and fuel use. It will link middle east countries by railway and connect them to india by port. Earlier, i spoke to ravi agrawal, the editor in chief of Foreign Policy. Thanks for being with us here on the programme. Now, the spokesman for ukraines Foreign Ministry said that that statement is, quote, nothing to be proud of. Why do you think that the 620 leaders agreed to more watered down language on ukraine this year, as opposed to last years stronger statement, which condemned russia . Well, you know, joint statements such as the one weve just seen often reflect the characteristics of the host country. And i think the 620s communique this past weekend, it not only reflects indias stance as being on the fence on the war in ukraine, but it also mirrors the divisions that exist in the world when it comes to this war. As the 620 expands to include the African Union which represents 55 countries these divisions are only going to increase and come out into the open. And that is why groups such as the 67, for example which mostly has rich, industrialised countries tend to be more cohesive and theyre the ones who have criticised russia for the war in ukraine. So that really seems to be where the 620 is headed towards, being more inclusive of countries in the global south, but unable really to criticise things that, for example, the United States has been championing, such as trying to sort of restrict russias options around the world. Now, all of that said, the 620 is using its inclusivity for some good. The language in the joint declaration to reform big multilateral banks, for example, things like that, i think, will emerge in the coming days as advances that could be useful for the world. But what about for the ukrainians . Is this a blow for the ukrainian government, would you say . I think it is, and that its symbolic. It is symbolic that a group such as the 620 is unable to strongly criticise russia. Remember, the 620 does include russia. So just as this group is unable to come out strongly against russia, so too with the united nations. And as such, what all of this reflects is a fracturing of multilateralism in the world. A breakdown of the world into blocs that operate sometimes against each other, in competition with each other. This is not ideal, to be clear, but such is the world we are headed towards, where you have countries in the global south that essentially take the stance of saying, well, what about us . What about our wars . What about our conflicts that dont get as much attention . This is not to say that they are right in saying those things. This just reflects the mood in india, in many countries, in much of the global south. Well, in the face of that, weve seen President Biden nurturing his relationship with indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi both at this summit and, of course, recently, at a visit to washington. How do you see that relationship progressing . This is a relationship that is transactional, that is based on Hard Headed Realism. The United States needs india. You know, if you were to imagine americas Nightmare Scenario in terms of geopolitics, it would be that india moves closer to china. So as a result of imagining that Nightmare Scenario, the United States has to do what it can to bring india onside, which means increased defence ties, increased technology ties, cooperating on the quad and other such blocs and alliances, as the world fractures in the way i was just describing. For india as well, you know, one of its greatest Foreign Policy challenges today is its unresolved Border Dispute with china. So, you know, for india as well, if you put on a hard sort of realist hat, it makes a lot more sense to ally more closely with the United States, while still continuing to pick and choose various areas where you speak out on issues the United States wants you to. So climate change, for example, india seems to be all in on cooperating with the United States. But when it comes to russia, as we were just discussing, maybe not. All of that said, this relationship seems to be going from strength to strength in both countries, it is immensely domestically popular to champion the relationship between the worlds two biggest democracies. And one other dynamic i do want to briefly touch on. We did see a handshake between President Biden and saudi arabias Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman which, of course, we know he avoided when visiting the kingdom last year. What did you make of that . I mean, talk about Hard Headed Realism this is a relationship, you know, that i think the Biden White House realises that they have to cultivate in some form, even though President Biden himself has said that he would make saudi arabia a global pariah. Far from it. You know, the biden and mbs Fist Bumped In Riyadh Last Year and now it seems to have been upgraded to a handshake. And this is, again, because washington needs riyadh when it comes to helping keep the price of oil low, when it comes to emerging partnerships in The Middle East. Saudis opening up to israel and other countries in the region, saudi arabias immense sort of pockets and ability to influence Infrastructure Projects around the world. This Handshake Today was also in part because of a big Infrastructure Project a rail and Shipping Line going from india through The Middle East, that involves saudi. That is going to be very good for the region. But also, notably, it is something that goes against chinese efforts at infrastructure in the region. So ultimately, the way to see american Foreign Policy right now, to put it very simply, is anything that would further us interests against china seems to be the way that washington is seeing the world and acting out its Foreign Policy. Ravi agarwal, the editor in chief of Foreign Policy. Great to talk to you. Thanks so much. To another key headline from the summit. Uk Prime Minister rishi sunak� s visit to india a significant milestone, even as the two countries work to strengthen trade relations. Sunak became his countrys first leader of Indian Heritage to visit the country, a former british colony. Meanwhile, the 620 also committed to addressing Debt Vulnerabilities in developing countries, while focusing on improving health systems. The leaders� declaration also addressed efforts to curb climate change, including a pledge to pursue tripling Global Renewable Energy capacity. The 620 countries accounted for 80 of the worlds emissions in 2021. They are facing growing urgency to tackle extreme weather including torrential rains, record heat and damaging wildfires. New delhi where they are meeting experienced torrential flooding, landslides, and extreme heat in the last two months. As President Biden leaves india fresh, off new pledges to invest in the country and partners in The Middle East, it appears to be a show of solidarity against china. Heres White House National Security Council spokesman john kirby. They are represented here at the 620, and we hope that they will approach the discussions here in a constructive, productive way, because they have a lot to gain. They have a lot of interest in, for instance, high quality, valuable, transparent Economic Investment in lower and middle income countries. So theres a lot at stake for all the members of the 620. And we look forward to chinas participation in that regard. That doesnt mean that we turn a blind eye or look the other way at these coercive behaviours, whether theyre pushing on excessive Maritime Claims in the south china sea, whether its intellectual theft, whether its unfair Trade Practices around the world or its, quite frankly, a very sketchy human rights record. We mean to, and will, continue to press on all those concerns. President biden isnt returning from asia just yet he flies to vietnam on sunday. And mr biden will visit hanoi, to meet with key leaders there and explore vietnamese technology and innovation, according to the state department. Theyre also expected to Work Together on Education Exchanges and Workforce Development programs, along with combating climate change. The us is aiming to strengthen ties with the one Party Communist state and other South East Asian countries, as it seeks to counter chinas influence. The us remains vietnams largest export market, increasing nearly 14 last year, according to economic data. In the mid � 90s, the us and vietnam normalised relations, more than 20 years after the end of the vietnam war. China, however, has been gaining influence in nearby countries, including cambodia and myanmar. A little earlier, we took a closer look at both china and ukraine two countries front and centre at 620 discussions. Joining me now is daniel russell, former us Assistant Secretary Of State for east asian and pacific affairs. Welcome to the programme. Thanks for taking the time to be with us. Now, the 620 summit has agreed to a joint declaration, including a statement on the war in ukraine. What do you make of the language itself . Well, the language on ukraine and russia is sort of exquisitely cautious. It references the human tragedy, the suffering from the war in ukraine, but it doesnt specify who caused the war through aggression. So these are the kinds of compromises that need to be made in multilateral settings. After all, russia is a member of the 620. And india, as the host, i think is particularly careful about striking a balanced note. I think its fair to say that few people did even expect a joint declaration to be signed. Is this a win for modi, do you think . Yes. No question. Modi has been bolstering his status on The World Stage and the fact that he has succeeded at the leader level in getting consensus around a joint statement, one that directly alludes to the war in ukraine, whereas the Foreign Ministers were unable to do thatjust a matter of weeks ago, i think is a credit to him in terms of his diplomatic heft. President biden, as we know, has also announced a shipping and rail corridor. This will link india with The Middle East and europe. He says that it will create economic growth, jobs in this region. How significant do you think it is, in your assessment . I think its one of the most important things that the Biden Administration has championed. It works in the framework of the quad the us, japan, india, australia alignment. It actually comes out of the 67 as the partnership for Global Infrastructure and investment, and now its been expanded to at least a subset of the 620. This one, involving saudi arabia, for example, along with the eu and india. And, look, the world needs infrastructure, the world wants infrastructure. And for some time, china in the form of the belt and Road Initiative has been filling that gap, but doing so in ways that have created a lot of downstream problems. Environmental problems, Social Problems and a huge debt problem. So this new partnership for high quality and responsible investment and infrastructure offers a really important and viable alternative. As the saying goes, you cant beat something with nothing, and now i think biden is helping the west to put something very meaningful on. So let me ask you this, then, how important do you think this is in countering china . Its easy to see this, like many other things in the strictly zero sum lens of great power, us china rivalry, and theres elements of that, but i think more importantly, it goes to the question of whether the west is perceived in the global south as bringing something to the table, as really adding value, as providing more thanjust finger wagging lectures about human rights. And in this case, the answer is yes. With the us leadership, the west is providing and offering exactly the kind of investment and infrastructure and technology that low income countries, the developing countries very much need and want. The other big news to come out of the first day, mr modi formally inviting the African Union to become a permanent member of the group. What do you think that will mean for the group . Well, look, i think it goes to the point ijust made about the need for western countries and developed countries, industrialised countries, the 620, the leaders of the Global Economy to show that they are in fact working hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder with the developing world. And africa is a young, growing, developing continent that has a lot of needs and has a lot to offer. Now, its no easy task to integrate the interests of the African Continent with those of the 620, but its certainly a worthwhile endeavour. So, then, President Biden heading on to vietnam next after the 620, also in a bid to strengthen economic ties in south asia. What do you think President Biden needs to achieve there . What does he need to accomplish, in order to keep china at bay . Well, look, china is going to continue to exercise its leverage and to build its relationships, particularly its trade and economic relationships with countries in the indo pacific. The us hasnt been trying to stop that. But look at india, look at vietnam, these are two countries with a Love Hate Relationship with china and theres been a lot less love between them in the last few years, and theyve both found great value in aligning more closely with the United States. Now, on the economic side, i think the sky is the limit. Biden is meeting with a whole group of tech and other us Business Leaders while hes in vietnam, so economics is a big part, technology is a big part, but theres also a defence relationship. Theyre not going to talk publicly about it very much and its very slow to progress, but its important to both sides. Daniel russell, thank you so much for your insights. Thank you, helena. In many ways, the struggle for power among the worlds rivals is taking place in south asia and to the south china sea. As weve heard, the us has invested heavily there to counter china. Earlier, my colleague carl nasman spoke to brucejones, of the Brookings Institution on the us relations with india and more. The region is very keen to have more america to balance the more china that they are confronted with. 0bama tried to strengthen ties in asia, trump in his own way strengthened some of the ties in asia, biden is doing the same, but its really the region that has changed. Its a reaction to chinese overreach to the military build up, to the pressure, which is seeing this it is kind of a poison pill. This is all sorts of reasons why india is important to the us strategically. So quite frankly, the administration is not vertically focused on the internal democratic questions. They get raised, they are there, but they are minor compared to the strategic picture. Compared to the strategic icture. ,. , ~ compared to the strategic icture. ,. , ~. ,. , compared to the strategic icture. ,. ,. , picture. Looking at china now, and we mentioned picture. Looking at china now, and we mentioned president l picture. Looking at china now, | and we mentioned president xi jinping has never missed the group of 20 gathering and i think it would be the First Chinese leader ever not to attend, what you think is behind his decision to skip this one and often sometimes, that sometimes symbolism in what china does . I that sometimes symbolism in what china does . That sometimes symbolism in what china does . I imagine two reasons. People what china does . I imagine two reasons. People have what china does . I imagine two reasons. People have argued i what china does . I imagine two reasons. People have argued it| reasons. People have argued it is partly because of economic difficulties at home, im not really convinced by that. I think there are probably two reasons. There are a number of issues on the table where china would really be in a minority on debt relief, food security, on debt relief, food security, on theirfulsome support on debt relief, food security, on their fulsome support for Europe Rushjust for on their fulsome support for europe rush just for russia and ukraine, so xi would come into significant criticism and pressure at the 620 to shift his position on a number of these issues. That would not be comfortable for him, i think you wanted to avoid that. Second, relations with india are pretty tense as you know, ongoing tensions along the border, issues of chinese penetration of indian cyber. The new map that china published which shows china claiming a large swathe of indian territory, there are a host of reasons why the relationship is tense. So i think xi at the same time as avoiding criticism and pressure and also would feel perfectly comfortable to not help hand india a kind big moment on the global stage. That weakens indian 620 for xi not to be there, so it limits what can be done, so it is part of the difficulties in the relationship that im sure contributed to his decision not to travel. To contributed to his decision not to travel. ,. ,. , to travel. To look ahead briefly. To travel. To look ahead briefly, president to travel. To look ahead briefly, President Bidenj to travel. To look ahead briefly, President Biden will be visiting vietnam after the 620, they will be signing a new street Strategic Partnership between vietnam and the us, what do you make of this recent push we have seen by biden into the region . He was recently deepening ties with both south korea and japan. I deepening ties with both south korea and japan. Deepening ties with both south korea and japan. I would rather sa that korea and japan. I would rather say that the korea and japan. I would rather say that the region korea and japan. I would rather say that the region is korea and japan. I would rather say that the region is pulling i say that the region is pulling the us back in. Even compared to five years ago, all of chinas neighbours are increasingly nervous about the direction of chinese policy, the extremely Rapid Military build up threatening thai one, pressure on the economic front, diplomatic pressure. So all these countries including vietnam are very keen to see intensification of american presence, intensification of american diplomacy, they would love to see a trade deal with the United States. They are not going to get that. But the region is very keen to have more america to balance the more america to balance the more china that they are confronted with. 0bama tried to strengthen ties in asia, trump in his own way strengthen some of the ties in asia, biden is doing the same, but it is really the region that has changed, it is a reaction to chinese overreach, the military build up, the pressure which has seen this phenomenon of all countries really looking to strengthen their relationship with the United States. Stay with us here on bbc news. We have more news coming your way at the top of the hour, do join me then if you can, goodbye for now. Good morning, all. Wow, what an incredible week of weather we have just experienced across the uk for six consecutive days, we saw temperatures on, or above, 30 degrees. That was a september record, and on saturday, we saw the highest temperature weve seen this year, with 33 degrees. The Weather Story will change, though, over the next couple of days with the introduction of this pretty slow moving Weather Front. It will gradually change the Wind Direction to more of a north westerly, which is going to introduce, slowly, some fresher air from the north. But before that, weve got quite a muggy feel out there and some sharp, thundery downpours pushing in from the south west over the next few hours. Temperatures first thing Sunday Morning will be sitting mid to high teens quite widely across england and wales. A little bit fresher, particularly to the north west of the great glen. But please bear that in mind if you have got a ticket for the start line for the great north run. Its going to be a muggy old story and there will be a lot of sunshine around as well, both for the spectators and for the athletes as well. We run the risk of some thundery downpours continuing to move their way steadily north as we go through the day, so its going to be sunny spells and sharp showers. The showers pretty hitand miss, though, and with the sunshine, we will continue to see some warmth. Now, some of those showers could once again be heavy and thundery as theyre moving their way steadily northwards. Into scotland, Central Parts Of Scotland and northern ireland, largely fine and dry, and here is our weatherfront into the far north west, Still Producing some outbreaks of rain here. So a fresher feel here but, elsewhere, we could still see temperatures in the mid to high 20s, perhaps peaking in the south east 32, possibly 33 degrees once again, depending on how much sunshine we see. As we go through the evening and into the early hours of monday morning, well see some sharp thundery downpours again drifting their way steadily northwards. The thunderstorms will gradually ease and that Weather Front will gradually slip its way steadily south. Temperatures perhaps into the mid teens ahead of it, but its monday when we will start to see the signs of more of a significant change. So, as we go through the week ahead, it turns a little bit fresher and certainly more unsettled. Thats it, take care. This is bbc news. We will have the headlines at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. Smiling through. This is ahmed. He is 11 years old and he doesnt let much get in his way. He is heading to the river to get water, a daily ritual. Life was tough here, even before the war, but ahmed a fighter. We have come back to see this star pupil. Who is also stand in teacher at his school. Are you the best teacher there . That is a yes. Ahmed has been blind from birth, along with four