PM Modi talks over COVID situation with Japan PM Yoshihide Suga

New Delhi, April 26: In a telephonic conversation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday spoke to his Japanese counterpart Yoshihide Suga and discussed cooperation in diverse areas including high technology, skill development, and in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic together.

 

 

 

"Spoke to PM @sugawitter of Japan on phone. We reviewed the progress in various ongoing bilateral initiatives. We also discussed our cooperation in diverse areas including high technology, skill development and in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic together," tweeted PM Modi.

 

 

Both the leaders discussed the "COVID-19 situation in the respective country and exchanged views on various regional and global challenges posed by the pandemic", the PMO release said. They also highlighted "the importance of close India-Japan cooperation to overcome these challenges, such as by working together to create resilient, diversified and trustworthy supply chains, ensuring reliable supply of critical materials and technologies, and developing new partnerships in manufacturing and skill development."

 

However, according to Japan's Kyodo News, PM Suga voiced "grave concerns" over China's aggressive actions in surrounding waters in phone talks with PM Modi. Suga relayed his worries about Beijing's "intensifying unilateral attempts to change the status quo" in the East and South China seas, including the recent introduction of a law allowing its coast guard to use weapons against ships it views as intruding into its territory, according to the Foreign Ministry. 

 

 

In this context, the two leaders emphasized the need for early operationalization of the Specified Skilled workers (SSW) agreement in order to synergize their strengths and achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. They also highlighted the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project as a shining example of their cooperation and welcomed the steady progress in its execution.

 

Besides, the two leaders appreciated the support and facilitation provided to resident citizens in each other’s country during the COVID-19 pandemic, and agreed to continue such coordination. PM Modi also thanked Suga for providing assistance to India for combating the pandemic. He also expressed hope that he would be able to receive Prime Minister Suga in India at the earliest in the near future once the COVID-19 situation stabilizes.

 

 

Presently, India is under stress due to the worsening COVID-19 situation. The country reported 3.52 lakh fresh coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours. This is the highest single-day spike registered since the onset of the pandemic. As India fights against the unprecedented health crisis of COVID-19, global support in the form of oxygen supplies, ventilators, raw material for vaccines, PPT kits and oxygen concentrators have started pouring in.