Prime Minister Modi will speak at three sessions during the G7 Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who left for Hiroshima, Japan on Friday (May 19, 2023) said his presence at the G7 Summit to be held there was "particularly meaningful" as India holds the G20 Presidency this year.

"I look forward to exchanging views with the G7 countries and other invited partners on challenges that the world faces and the need to collectively address them," Prime Minister Modi said in his departure statement.

The G7 comprises Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, plus the European Union. While India is not a member of the G7, it is a guest country at the 2023 Summit and Prime Minister Modi has been invited to speak at the meet by Japanese PM Kishida Fumio. Japan is currently the G-7 chair.

Briefing the media on Friday, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra had said that India's participation at the G7 summit in Hiroshima would be structured around three formal sessions - two of them would be held on May 20 and the third one on May 21. The first session relates to food health, development, and gender equality, the second session is on climate, energy and environment. The third session on 21st of May is titled, ‘Towards peaceful, stable and prosperous world’.

"India's regular participation at the G7 summits clearly points to increasing recognition that India should be a part of any serious effort to resolve global challenges, including those of peace, security, development, and environment preservation," Foreign Secretary Kwatra added.

While in Hiroshima, Prime Minister Modi will also hold bilateral discussions with several leaders of the G7 as also with the other guest countries and international organizations.

Prime Minister Modi will be in Japan from May 19-21 and then travel to Papua New Guinea. This will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country. PM Modi will co-chair the the 3rd Summit of the Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC III Summit) in Port Moresby jointly with Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape on May 22.

"FIPIC had been launched during my visit to Fiji in 2014, and I look forward to engaging with the PIC Leaders on issues that bring us together, such as climate change and sustainable development, capacity building and training, health and well-being, infrastructure and economic development," Prime Minister Modi said in his departure statement.

He said he looked forward to bilateral interactions with Papua New Guinea Governor General Sir Bob Dadae, Prime Minister Marape and some of the other Pacific Island Countries (PIC) leaders participating in the Summit.

PM Modi will visit Sydney, Australia in the final leg of his three-nation tour at the invitation of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

"I look forward to our bilateral meeting, which will be an opportunity to take stock of our bilateral ties and follow up on our first India-Australia Annual Summit held in New Delhi in March this year. I will also interact with Australian CEOs and business leaders, and meet the Indian community in Sydney at a special event," Prime Minister Modi said.