China has objected to the inclusion of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family) as the theme of India’s G20 chairmanship.

The term was opposed in the outcome document during last month’s G20 energy ministerial meeting and other similar G20 documents, primarily because Sanskrit is one of the six recognized languages by the United Nations.

The term is used in the rest of the G20 document. China argued that the G-20 documents cannot officially use the term ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, as it is a Sanskrit language word recognized by the UN but not included in the six official languages.

The Ministry of External Affairs has not responded officially on the matter, but government insiders have confirmed that the Chinese side has conveyed its protest. After India assumed the G20 chairmanship in December last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the theme, which appears to be in line with his largely inclusive approach in international forums.

The theme is ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’, which originated from the Maha Upanishad, affirming the value of all life—human, animal, plant, and micro-organism.