PM Modi first world leader to emphasise international unity to deal with COVID-19: FS Shringla

New Delhi: Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Wednesday claimed India led international cooperation in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis. Speaking at the session 'Plurilateralism Inc: The Future of Global Governance' at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi.

"In his address, the PM noted that the G20, which was created in response to the financial and economic crisis, was meeting for the first time to deal with a humanitarian situation. The Summit took some far-reaching measures designed to support developing countries in dealing with the unprecedented crisis, including through the Debt Service Suspension Initiative," the Foreign Secretary was quoted as saying by ANI.

The Foreign Minister said PM Modi has also proposed a G20 Summit to address the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the Prime Minister also participated in the NAM Extraordinary Summit on the COVID-19 pandemic.

"More recently, the first Quad Summit announced a vaccine initiative, whereby vaccines manufactured in India, financed by USA and Japan, would be supplied across the Indo-Pacific with Australian last-mile logistical support," he said.

India currently chairs the World Health Assembly and is a part of the WHO`s Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (IPPR) to evaluate the world`s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Foreign Secretary said India is part of multiple groupings, plurilateral constructs such as the BRICS, SCO and Quad as well as smaller and more informal trilateral meetings such as RIC and JAI.

"This is in keeping with our belief in working in close cooperation with all concerned on our regional, multilateral and global responsibilities," he said.

PM Modi also convened a regional meeting of SAARC heads of state or government as early as March 2020 when the decision to move to lockdown was yet to be taken.