UK PM Sunak With Wife Akshata Murthy Arrives In Delhi For G20 Summit

The United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak along with his wife Akshata Murthy on Friday arrived in Delhi for the G20 Summit.

He was received by MoS for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ashwini Kumar Choubey.

Before leaving for India, Sunak, speaking to reporters, said that his visit to New Delhi for the G20 Leaders' Summit is "obviously special" as he joked about being referred to as the "son-in-law of India" as the first British Prime Minister of Indian heritage and married to an Indian in Akshata Murthy.

The 43-year-old British Indian leader said he was excited to be back in India, "a country that is very near and dear to me". He is joined on the visit by his wife, the daughter of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, and is scheduled for bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the summit.

"I'm heading to the G20 Summit with a clear focus. Stabilising the global economy. Building international relationships. Supporting the most vulnerable," tweeted Sunak as he embarked on the three-day tour.

"It's obviously special. I saw somewhere that I was referred to as India's son-in-law, which I hope was meant affectionately," he told reporters travelling with him.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has been flagged as a key topic on the agenda for the UK during the summit discussions, with Downing Street saying India's role and influence is "vital".

"Once again, Vladimir Putin is failing to show his face at the G20. He is the architect of his own diplomatic exile, isolating himself in his presidential palace and blocking out criticism and reality. The rest of the G20, meanwhile, are demonstrating that we will turn up and work together to pick up the pieces of Putin's destruction," Rishi Sunak told reporters.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Argentine President Alberto Fernández and IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva were among the top leaders who arrived here on Friday for the G20 summit.

The leaders were welcomed by traditional dance performances by various troupes and a smiling Georgieva danced to the beat of the music at the airport. Meloni and Hasina were received at the airport by Union Ministers Shobha Karandlaje and Darshana Jardosh respectively.

Sunak was received by Union Minister Ashwini Choubey while Fernandez was welcomed by Union Minister Faggan Singh Kulaste. Comoros President Azali Assoumani also arrived here to a rousing welcome.