More work is done on the sidelines than in a summit like the G20: German ambassador Walter J Lindner

More work is done on the sidelines than in a summit like the G20: German ambassador Walter J Lindner

German ambassador to India Walter Johannes Lindner said on Thursday that more work is being done on the sidelines than in a summit like the G20.

"Yes, more work is done on the sidelines than in a summit like the G20. And that's what makes those meetings doubtful for many people out there because they do not know what's happening there, who is talking with whom but it is true. That is the gist of diplomacy - that things are discussed at the sidelines - but I think we have to make sure that it's more transparent," Lindner said on WION World Order.

Programmes like these should be more open, it's not a clandestine thing. World leaders come together in these summits and take responsibility, he added.

Talking about threats of the digital era he said on WION World Order, "With the new technology and digitalisation, we have to find rules for it. Otherwise, it will be the law of the jungle".

The latest G20 summit in Japan's Osaka, for which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Japan, is being held a time when the very idea of multilateral talks to manage global affairs and resolve disputes is at a threat.

"We want to support multilateralism. The gist of the matter is: With over 7 billion people, how do we organise a body which takes decisions," said German Ambassador.

On WION World Order, Walter Johannes Lindner, Brazil Ambassador André Aranha Corrêa do Lago and Argentina Ambassador Daniel Chuburu talk about what they expect from the G20 Summit in Japan's Osaka and the stumbling blocks.

With the presence of US President Donald Trump in Japan's Osaka at the high-stakes G20 summit likely to be dominated by trade tensions between the United States and China.