Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the inaugural session of the Voice of Global South Summit via video conferencing in New Delhi (PTI)

Supply chain issues, rising food and energy prices, armed conflict, climate change, and the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic have driven the world into a state of difficult instability that could last for an unforeseeable time period, according to a statement made by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Inaugural Leaders' Session of Voice of Global South Summit 2023 on Thursday.

"It is clear the world is in a state of crisis. It is difficult to predict how long this state of instability will last," Modi said before adding that the global community had "turned the page on another difficult year."

The PM explained that some of the difficulties of 2023 included conflicts, terrorism, geo-political tensions, rising food prices, fertilizer, and energy prices, climate-change-driven natural disasters, and the "lasting" impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on the global economy.

"Despite the challenges the developing world faces, I remain optimistic that our time is coming," Modi noted.

"The need of the hour is to identify simple, scalable, and sustainable solutions that can transform our societies and economies," the PM continued and explained that "with such an approach, we shall overcome the difficult challenges - whether it is poverty, universal healthcare or building human capacities."

Moreover, Modi noted that “India has always shared its developmental experience with our brothers of the Global South," adding that "as India begins its G20 Presidency this year, it is natural that our aim is to amplify the Voice of the Global South.”

The virtual summit, which started off on January 12 with the inaugural leaders' session, titled "Voice of Global South - for Human-Centric Development" is a two-day virtual summit composed of 10 sessions and will be concluded with a session titled "Unity of Voice-Unity of Purpose."

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