No one country can run the world: Indian PM at UN
September 27, 2014, 3:54 pm

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address at the UNGA in New York on 27 September 2014 [Image: UN]

“No one country can run the world… pitch for UN, multilateralism,” said Modi days ahead of his bilateral meeting with US President Barack Obama.

The US Congress on Thursday has ordered a second probe by the US International Trade Commission into India’s “unfair” trade practices, specifically targeting any new policy changes initiated by the new Indian government that was sworn in in May.

Modi also hit back at criticism over India’s blocking of a global trade deal saying that multilateral trade agreements must take into account interests of all stakeholders.

“When we craft agreements on international trade we should accommodate each other’s concerns and interests,” said Modi in New York.

A possible landmark WTO trade deal collapsed earlier this year over objections raised by India, which was seeking to bolster farm protections. India wants to continue with its food security subsidies without attracting sanctions.

At the UNGA, Modi also echoed the Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s call for urgent reforms of the UN Security Council to ensure that it remains relevant and effective in dealing with present challenges.

“Let us fulfill promise to reform the UN Security Council by 2015. We will turn 70 next year. We have to ask ourselves- do we wait till we turn 80? No. The next year can be an opportunity,” said the Indian Prime Minister.

Both India and Brazil have bid for permanent membership of the UNSC. Fellow BRICS partners Russia and China are already among the permanent members.

The push for UNSC reforms is gaining momentum because 2015 is a milestone year for the international body.

The Indian Prime Minister on Saturday also made a strong pitch to bolster international efforts to fight terrorism in different parts of the world.

The US and its allies launched airstrikes against Islamic State fighters in Syria earlier this week, which was resumed on Friday.

India has been the target of regular terror attacks in the last 15 years, most notable being the 2008 Mumbai attacks in which a group of terrorists arrived by boat and killed 166 commuters, visitors, and security service personnel in a three-day massacre.

The Indian Prime Minister on Saturday spoke about the need for more concerted multilateral action to address challenges of a still fragile global economy, climate change and the endemic global challenge of poverty.

He also urged early adoption of the United Nation’s Post-2015 Development Agenda.

Modi met UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon ahead of his UNGA address on Saturday.

The Indian Prime Minister will also meet US President Barack Obama in Washington over two days from September 29 on the second and final leg of his visit.

Modi faces strong challenges, including an uphill task of easing trade spats with America ranging from protectionism to patent rights.

TBP