Bhubaneswar: Union Minister of Culture, Tourism and DoNER G Kishan Reddy on Sunday said the theme of India’s G20 Presidency “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” and LiFE – Lifestyle for Environment aims at environmental sustainability and responsible choices, both at the level of individual lifestyles and national development.
Speaking at a press meet on the 2nd G20 Culture Working Group meeting in Bhubaneswar, Reddy said it aims to build on the discussions from the 1st CWG meeting held in February at Khajuraho and the expert-driven Global Thematic Webinars on four priority areas of the CWG.
The priority areas are Protection and Restitution of Cultural Property; Harnessing Living Heritage for a Sustainable Future; Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries and Creative Economy and Leveraging Digital Technologies for the Protection and Promotion of Culture.
“There will be discussions on collaborative initiatives, such as cultural exchange programmes, joint heritage conservation projects, and cross-cultural dialogues that can strengthen our connections and build more resilient and interconnected communities,” he added.
Union Minister of State for Culture Arjun Ram Meghwal said the discussion on a ‘Sustainable Future’ will focus on what next generation would inherit. “The cultural sites should be linked with economic activities and tourism should be developed on such sites to promote employment opportunities for the locals. Technology should be promoted at the sites,” he added.
Lily Pandeya, joint secretary, Ministry of Culture and Co-Chair, G20 CWG talked about the collaborative power that the G20 members, the guest nations and the international organisations hold to harness the power of culture to unite the nations and foster a sense of global solidarity.
Reddy also inaugurated an exquisite sand sculpture on the theme ‘Culture Unites All’ by eminent artist Sudarsan Pattnaik on Puri beach. The theme acknowledges that while cultural traditions and practices may differ significantly, they frequently share common values and beliefs.
The delegates were also treated to a variety of cultural performances, including Sankha Badan, Tribal dance (Singari), Odissi dance, Gotipua and Sambalpuri dance. These performances highlight the rich cultural heritage of Odisha and underscore the importance of preserving traditional art forms.
The 2nd CWG meeting’s discussion sessions will begin on Monday.
