Chancellor Olaf Scholz addresses Global Solutions Summit
May 15, 2023
Olaf Scholz addressed delegates at the Global Solutions forum on Monday, with this year's summit particularly focusing on inclusivity and sustainability.
The German Chancellor acknowledged that some countries, such as India, Vietnam, and South Africa, were concerned about Western double standards on Russia.
"When I talk to leaders from those countries, many assure me that they are not questioning the underlying principles of our international order. What they are struggling with is the unequal application of those principles," he said.
"What they expect is representation on equal terms, and an end to Western double standards."
Scholz said the assertions should be addressed, even if he doesn’t always think they’re justified.
"If countries get the impressions that we only approach them because we are interested in raw materials or because we want their support on a UN resolution it should not surprise us that their willingness to cooperate is limited at best," he said.
He said he should focus on what the West can offer countries in Africa, Asia and Americas and where all their interests converge.
Scholz said he would invite leaders to Germany in November to join the G20.
Global Solutions Summit focus on on major issues
After the speech, Scholz also took questions from selected audience members, together "exploring perspectives from a global audience on topics such as the G7, G20, food security, and future generations."
The Global Solutions Summit — the World Policy Forum aims to address the main policy challenges facing the G20 and G7 and other supranational gatherings.
It aims to transform research into policy initiatives and brings together experts from think tanks, research organizations, government, business, and civil society each year in the middle of every G20 Presidency.
A day earlier, Scholz met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin and joined him in the western city of Aachen for the awarding of the Charlemagne prize.
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