In times of COVID-19, India in multilateral online conferences to tackle pandemic

Global concern over the new coronavirus is rising. People around the world are rethinking large gatherings. Leaders around the globe are also switching to online methods. In this article, Senior journalist Smita Sharma talks about what all world leaders are doing in order to contain the virus.

New Delhi: Just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated a video conference summit meet with leaders of SAARC member nation, and G7 world leaders too held discussions online, India’s participation in multilateral initiatives continue. Today, Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla participated in a telephonic conference call initiated by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun.

The US-led Audio conference included senior representatives from Australia, Republic of Korea, Vietnam, New Zealand, Japan, and India as an Indo-Pacific initiative to discuss ways to counter COVID-19. The teleconference focused on assessments of the current situation with respect to COVID-19 ways to synergize regional and global efforts to counter its spread.

"Foreign Secretary Shringla briefed the participants on the proactive steps taken by India both nationally and in the region under the Prime Minister's leadership. He conveyed India’s desire to regularly share its perspectives with partners in the region and to work together with others to counter this challenge,” said a formal statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

The teleconference is expected to be organised on a weekly basis to cover issues like cooperation on vaccine development, challenges of stranded citizens, assistance to countries in need and mitigating the impact on the global economy among others.

This on a day when Indian Family and Health Ministry officials are also participating in a China-led conference call on the subject. China this week claimed that no fresh cases of Corona Virus have been reported in the epicentre of Wuhan, sparking hope and skepticism across netizens globally.

Foreign Secretary Shringla will also be the key contact along with the Indian missions to Liaison with his SAARC counterparts to take forward some of the proposals discussed during the video conference on 15th March attended by all heads of states and governments of the South Asian grouping except Pakistan which was represented by its Health Minister as the special envoy of Imran Khan. India has offered to set up a pandemic fund with an initial contribution of 10 million USD and rush quick medical response teams to neighbours based on requests including as received from Maldives and Iran.

“The G20 will act, alongside international organizations, in any way deemed necessary to alleviate the impact of the pandemic. G20 Leaders will put forward a coordinated set of policies to protect people and safeguard the global economy,” said a subsequent formal release from Riyadh.

The Summit will build on the ongoing efforts of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, senior health, trade, and foreign affairs officials, to further develop the precise requirements and actions needed,” the statement added about the meeting expected to take place in the next few days to discuss the human and economic costs of the crisis globally.