MODI TO LEAD INDIA AT VIDEO CONFERENCE OF SAARC NATIONS

New Delhi, March 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead India at a video conference of all Saarc nations at 5 pm on Sunday to chalk out a joint strategy to fight coronavirus in the region, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

Modi on Friday proposed formulation of a joint strategy by the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) nations to fight coronavirus, a suggestion that was backed by all the member states.

“Coming together for common good! 15 March, 1700 IST. PM Narendra Modi will lead India at the video conference of all Saarc member countries, to chalk out a strong common strategy to fight Covid-19 in the region,” MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a tweet.

Calling on the Saarc nations to set an example for the world, Modi had reached out to the eight-member regional grouping and pitched for a video conference among its leaders to chalk out a strong strategy to fight coronavirus, which has killed nearly 5,000 people globally.

In other developments, the US Embassy and Consulates in India have cancelled all visa appointments from March 16 in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.

A statement issued by the US Embassy here said, “US Mission India posts, in light of the global Covid-19 pandemic, are cancelling immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments from March 16, 2020, onward.”

“Your visa appointment stands as cancelled. Once Mission India resumes regular operations, appointments will be made available,” the statement said.