Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu Monday said he raised the issue of multilateralism, black money and economic offences before global leaders who had come together at the centenary of the armistice of World War I in Paris.
Naidu, who represented India at the just concluded meeting, said the world has moved from World War 1 for territories to the modern battles for markets' and effective integration of global markets through multilateralism is the battle of the present times.
He also highlighted the issue of terrorism and climate change as major challenges faced by humanity and the need for collective efforts to address these issues.
The Vice-President called for addressing the present asymmetries and the need for reform of United Nations Security Council, which he said currently does not represent 70 per cent of the world population, and stressed on making it a multilateral forum.
"The wars of the kind of the World War I may be a remote possibility but we have the battles of a new kind to face in the present world order to further the interest of the humanity.
"I have told the fellow leaders who attended the Paris events that India would always be willing to play its role in improving the lot of mankind across the territories," he told reporters here.
For India and Indians, Nationalism is a spirit for action by which all Indians give their best so that each Indian gets the best due, he said.
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"In the present world order, national agendas shall merge to form the global agenda for action so that citizens all across the world benefit equally. This approach helps in breaking the walls of protectionism that stand to threaten multilateralism," he noted.
"There is a certain need for the world to ensure effective multilateralism that brings all the nations on a common platform to explore common solutions for challenges faced by humanity. We need united efforts of the world to deal with global development priorities such as eradication of poverty, providing education, health care, employment and gender parity," he said.
The Vice President, who met around 40 global leaders including US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, said all praised the development efforts and successes being registered by India in its quest for contributing to the progress of humanity.
"Wars take different forms in different periods of time. Need of the hour is to draw right lessons from the catastrophic World War I and be united in conquering the battles of the day for the collective benefit of humanity," he told the gathering.
The Paris meet provided an opportunity for around 70 global leaders to look at the challenges to the multilateralism and work unitedly to prevent any disaster hitting the mankind in the form of growing protectionism.
Naidu said he also unveiled the Indian War Memorial in VillersGuislain, about 200 kms from Paris, commemorating the brave battles fought by Indian soldiers of whom over 40 thousand died during the battle of Cambrai.
He also participated in a panel discussion titled Dialogue of Continents on Global Governance' focusing on issues of multilateralism, international institutions and global governance challenges and the means to craft sustainable peace.
"I reminded the fellow leaders that thousands of brave Indian soldiers sacrificed their lives 100 years ago fighting for the cause of righteousness and the interest of peace, human liberty and freedom," he said.
Since the days of ancient civilization, India has believed in the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', which means the World is one family, he said.
Naidu said free flow of capital and human resources holds the key for betterment of humanity across physical boundaries.
"I raised the issue of economic offences and economic fugitives that requires a global consensus and action, especially to make extradition easy," he told the leaders.
Stockpiling of arms and military buildup pose distinct threat to world peace and the world should aim at a shared future in a world order guided by commitment to peace, justice and inclusive sustainable development, he said.
"To enable this just and peaceful new order, there is a felt need for reform in global institutional structures and systems to ensure transparent and responsive global governance," he said, noting that India has been playing a positive and pro-active role in addressing challenges concerning humanity in the world.
The World War I fought between July 1914 November 11, 1918 claimed lives of about 17 million people.
About 14 lakh Indian soldiers fought with valour and distinction on numerous battle fields and about 74,000 Indians were killed in this war, he added.