“World stands strong with India because India stood for Humanity when every country needed”: European Union
“When the Coronavirus pandemic grew across the world, India aided every country possible like a pharmacy & that is why they all continue to ‘pay-back’. India will soon defeat the second wave”
In a first, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday virtually joined the meeting of the European Council, as a special invitee at the invitation of European Council President, Charles Michel. During the meeting, the leaders of the 27-member bloc assured their support to India as it battles with the devastating second wave of Coronavirus.
At the virtual summit attended by Germany’s Angela Merkel and the EU president Ursula von der Leyen amongst others, the French President highlighted India’s vaccine exports to several countries in the time of the pandemic.
Proving to be ‘World’s Pharmacy,’ India under its ‘Vaccine Maitri’ initiative to help the globe battle COVID-19 pandemic, initially exported COVID-19 vaccines to as many as 95 countries, as per MEA data.
Nearly 663.698 lakhs of COVID-19 jabs have been exported to countries across the globe including Iran, Uganda, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Brazil amongst others, since India began manufacturing the vaccines. This was paused as India’s domestic requirements overwhelmed any possibility of exports.
“India does not need to listen to lectures from anyone about vaccine supplies. India has exported a lot for humanity to many countries. We know what situation India is in”
French President Emmanuel Macron
Modi was scheduled to visit Portugal for the World leaders’ meeting but it was called off in view of the coronavirus crisis and both sides decided to hold the deliberations virtually.
In his remarks, Modi invited the EU to support a proposal by India and South Africa to waive patents on COVID-19 vaccines so that there can be equitable vaccine access for the entire world, officials said.
To further strengthen coordination on global economic governance, notably in the WTO and in the G20, India and the EU agreed to set up an EU-India senior officials’ dialogue to deepen bilateral cooperation on WTO issues, under the supervision of the High-Level Dialogue on Trade and Investment.
In another important outcome, India and the EU launched a sustainable and comprehensive ‘Connectivity Partnership’ that will promote rules based connectivity based on a level playing field for economic operators.
