COVID-19: Modi speaks to Israeli, UK PMs

With the coronavirus outbreak declared a pandemic by the WHO, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held telephonic talks with his Israeli and UK counterparts and discussed enhanced global coordination to tackle the scourge that has killed over 3,000 people. During his talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on March 11, PM Modi exchanged views on the global situation regarding COVID-19 and discussed bilateral relations. In his discussion with his British counterpart Boris Johnson on March 12, he touched on a host of bilateral issues besides the coronavirus. The two leaders expressed their desire to further strengthen the India-UK strategic partnership in the new decade, said a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs. They agreed that it would be useful to formulate a comprehensive roadmap towards this objective. The leaders expressed their satisfaction at cooperation between India and the UK in the field of climate change, especially concerning the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). PM Modi thanked Johnson for the invitation to COP-26 in Glasgow later this year. The two prime ministers also exchanged views on the COVID-19 epidemic. PM Modi expressed concern over UK Health Minister Nadine Dorries’ testing positive for coronavirus and wished her a speedy recovery. He also reiterated his invitation to Mr Johnson to visit India.