G20 participants declare readiness to achieve sustainable development goals

The participants of the ministerial meeting on development within the framework of India's G20 presidency, held on June 12 in Varanasi, India, expressed readiness to achieve the 2030 sustainable development agenda.

"We meet at a time of unprecedented multidimensional crises and challenges that affect people, the planet, prosperity, peace and partnerships and negate years of progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs - ed.). We strongly reaffirm our commitment to the full and effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its SDGs, leaving no one behind. We pledge to put sustainable development at the centre of the international cooperation agenda," the final document of the meeting states, according to TASS.

Participants agreed to do everything possible to end poverty and inequality in all their forms and manifestations and to ensure a sustainable economy and strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth. "The G20 intends to work for better access for all to food and healthy food, to promote gender equality, and to ensure inclusive and quality education.

"We also call for ambitious, concrete, and collective G20 action to create opportunities for all and to address structural vulnerabilities and imbalances, especially those faced by developing countries," the text states.