Harsh Shringla, US Charge d'Affaires discuss ways to strengthen vaccine cooperation

Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla and the new US Charge d'Affaires Ambassador Daniel B. Smith discussed ways to enhance vaccine and pharmaceutical cooperation, including raw materials supply. India’s healthcare system on the brink of collapse as the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has hit the nation hard.

New Delhi: India and the United States on Monday discussed enhancing vaccine and pharmaceutical cooperation, including raw materials supply, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla called on the new US Charge d'Affaires Ambassador Daniel B. Smith and discussed ways to strengthen the bond and both the leaders reiterated their commitment to working hand to hand in combating the pandemic.

Taking to Twitter, MEA spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi said, "Foreign Secretary @harshvshringla welcomed new US Charge d'Affaires Ambassador Daniel B. Smith @USAmbIndia. Conveyed appreciation for the USA's solidarity & assistance in dealing with the current COVID pandemic situation".

Agreed to work together in enhancing vaccines and essential pharma cooperation, including raw materials supply. Look forward to maintaining the upward trajectory of our strategic partnership, he added in a tweet.

Meanwhile, the US Charge d'Affaires expressed great pleasure in meeting the Foreign Secretary and said that people-to-people ties are the foundation of the India-US relationship.

Read:PM must atone for his mistakes, commit to serving people: Congress

"A pleasure to meet FS @harshvshringla and to discuss important U.S.-India efforts to combat the pandemic", Ambassador Smith said in a tweet.

People-to-people ties are the foundation of the #USIndia relationship. Groups like the ones @VP Harris mentions in her remarks, among many others, champion these ties and help bolster U.S. COVID-19 relief efforts in India, he added.

The United States has been instrumental in helping India fight the battle against the second wave of the pandemic. So far, the United States has sent lakhs of medical aid and supplies to India, as the country continues to reel under the deadly virus that has claimed millions of life so far.

Read:Sambit Patra slams CM Kejriwal over handling of COVID situation in Delhi

It is pertinent to note that the United States has recently announced to support the waiving of the TRIPS on the Covid vaccines.

With India’s healthcare system on the brink of collapse as the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic has hit the nation hard, countries all across the world are leaving no stone unturned to help India fight against the pandemic.