Johnson and Modi in talks on vaccine

BORIS Johnson and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi discussed joint work on a coronavirus vaccine, along with trade, security and climate change during a phone call yesterday, Downing

Street said.

The Prime Minister told his South Asian counterpart that “2021 would be a year to deepen and strengthen the Uk-india relationship”, according to Number 10, as global leaders look to kick-start the recovery after the pandemic.

India’s Covid-19 cases soared past 9.18 million this week, with more than 134,000 deaths.

In the UK, 57,000 people have died within 28 days of a positive test.

But there is growing hope that an end to the pandemic is in sight due to recent successful vaccine trials worldwide.

India is home to some of the world’s biggest vaccine makers and there are five coronavirus candidates in different phases of trial in the country.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said:

“The Prime Minister and Prime Minister Modi discussed joint efforts to find treatments and vaccines for coronavirus, and welcomed the collaboration between our countries’ leading scientists.”

The pair also discussed upcoming meetings about climate change.