India, US decide to enhance cooperation

NEW DELHI : Foreign secretary Harsh Shringla and US deputy secretary of state Stephen Biegun on Wednesday discussed ways to further enhance cooperation to counter the Covid-19 pandemic and ensure the availability of essential medicines and equipment, people familiar with developments said.

Shringla’s telephone conversation with the US official was a follow-up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s telephone call with President Donald Trump on April 4 and external affairs minister S Jaishankar’s telephone conversation with the secretary of state Mike Pompeo on April 6.

The two sides exchanged views on the current situation, especially the spread of the SARSCoV-2 virus its and associated challenges, the people cited above said on condition of anonymity.

“Both sides discussed ways to further enhance their cooperation to counter and control the pandemic, including through the development of novel therapies and prophylactics against Covid-19 and ensuring the availability of essential medicines, diagnostic and medical equipment, and the sharing of best practices and information,” said one of the people cited above.

On Tuesday, India announced the partial easing of restrictions on the export of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine and paracetamol to fulfil existing orders from foreign countries such as the US.

The move followed Trump’s request for the lifting of restrictions during his conversation with Modi on April 4.

According to the external affairs ministry, Modi reiterated India’s solidarity with the US in overcoming the global crisis during the conversation with Trump.