India, G7 Say "Committed To Ensuring Free And Independent Media"

Leaders of the G7 grouping and its five partner countries, including India, on Monday said that they seek to promote a rules-based international order, respect other states' territorial integrity and sovereignty, respect and defend the principles enshrined in the UN Charter as they vowed to remain steadfast in their commitment to defending peace, human rights and the rule of law.

In a joint statement, the Group of Seven (G7), an inter-governmental political grouping, acknowledged the importance of national laws and regulations that are in place in each country to advance the principles and values of democracy.

"We, the Leaders of Germany, Argentina, Canada, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Senegal, South Africa, the UK, the US and the EU affirm our commitment to strengthening the resilience of our democracies and to working towards equitable, inclusive and sustainable solutions to global challenges, including climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, and reaffirm our commitment to the rules-based international order," it said.

It took note of the 2021 Carbis Bay Open Societies Statement and recognised the "dramatic changes" in the geopolitical situation since then and the significant threats to democratic systems around the world.

"We remain steadfast in our commitment to defending peace, human rights, the rule of law, human security and gender equality, as recognised by international law, including the United Nations Charter, and call on our international partners to join us in these efforts," the statement said.

"We hail all courageous defenders of democratic systems that stand against oppression and violence, and will step up international cooperation to improve the resilience of democratic societies globally.

"We commit to engage with partners internationally for peace and prosperity, and will work for progress towards an equitable world, because we are stronger together," it said.

It said that G7 seeks to promote a rules-based international order, respect other states' territorial integrity and sovereignty, respect and defend the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, support the peaceful resolution of conflicts, oppose the threat or use of force of any kind that is not in compliance with international law, protect human rights, strengthen multilateral institutions to address global challenges, and develop and use technologies in accordance with democratic principles for the benefit of humanity.

The statement assumes significance amidst aggressive moves by China in the strategic Indo-Pacific region as well as Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

India, the US and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China's aggressive military manoeuvring in the region.

China also claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea.

India has oil exploration projects in the Vietnamese waters in the South China Sea. India and Vietnam are boosting their maritime security cooperation in the last few years to protect common interests.

"In sharing these values, we are stronger together and commit to supporting democracy worldwide and free and fair elections, including through electoral assistance; in the spirit of partnership fighting climate change, preventing environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity, mobilising climate finance and supporting a just, equitable and socially inclusive transformation agenda, ensuring an orderly fair and equitable energy transition, taking into account energy security, national development priorities, viable and affordable technologies," the G7 said.

It also committed to supporting cooperating closely in the run-up to the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27); improving food security to prevent famine and striving for energy security by ensuring resilient energy supply chains, noting in this context the UN Global Crisis Response Group initiative; pursuing concerted efforts to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, and improve vaccine distribution and production, as well as our global health architecture for future health crises, with the World Health Organization (WHO) in a central role.

It also resolved to fighting corruption, illicit financial flows, organised crime, cybercrimes and other illicit activities, including through enhanced beneficial ownership transparency; advocating free, fair, non-discriminatory, rules-based and sustainable trade, alleviating global inequalities, raising standards of living, maintaining open and resilient economies and strengthening the multilateral trading system, including by reforming the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The G7 grouping said it is committed to supporting efforts to push for sustainable solutions to mounting global sovereign debt, in particular within the G20 Common Framework for Debt Treatments beyond the Debt Service Suspension Initiative for debtors in need, while continuing to explore further solutions for vulnerable countries, including Middle Income Countries.

It said that it is committed to open public debate, independent and pluralistic media and the free flow of information online and offline, fostering legitimacy, transparency, responsibility and accountability for citizens and elected representatives alike.

"We are prepared to defend these principles and are resolved to protecting the freedom of expression and opinion online and offline and ensuring a free and independent media landscape through our work with relevant international initiatives; ensuring an open, free, global, interoperable, reliable and secure internet and increasing the cyber resilience of digital infrastructure, including by improving and sharing awareness of cyber threats and expanding cyber response cooperation," it added.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)