PM Modi discusses bilateral issues and COVID vaccine development with UK PM Mr Boris Johnson
By TIOL News Service
NEW DELHI, NOV 28, 2020: THE Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi spoke with his British counterpart Mr Boris Johnson on Friday to discuss a wide range of global and bilateral issues, including the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and their cooperation on vaccine development.
Downing Street said the leaders discussed their cooperation across trade, climate change, defence, security and health. Mr Johnson said that 2021 would be a year to deepen and strengthen the UK-India relationship and re-emphasised the UK's commitment to the wider Indo-Pacific region, ahead of the first deployment of the HMS Queen Elizabeth carrier group to the region next year.
The leaders also discussed the joint efforts to find treatments and vaccines for coronavirus, and welcomed the collaboration between the countries' leading scientists in developing and manufacturing it.
They reiterated their shared desire to impart a "quantum jump to the India-UK partnership in the post-COVID, post-BREXIT era," Mr Modi's office said.
They laid particular emphasis on India and UK joining hands in the fight against climate change, and appreciated their collaboration under platforms like the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
"They looked forward to next month's Climate Ambition Summit, which will be an opportunity to reinvigorate the global efforts against climate change ahead of the UK-hosted COP26 Summit next year," a release from Downing Street said.
The leaders agreed that officials from both sides would continue their work to quickly finalise an ambitious long-term roadmap for the India-UK partnership.
Mr Johnson also stressed the importance of improving bilateral trade and investment flows. Both leaders welcomed the extensive work that has taken place on this to date and shared an ambition for deepening the economic relationship.