Union Minister of External Affairs on Friday highlighted the increased interdependence of countries due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and said that the need of the hour today is a unified approach towards global development.
“The Covid pandemic has shown the interdependence of an inter-connected world. The need of the hour is, therefore, ‘One Earth One Health’. That means a timely, transparent, effective and non-discriminatory international response to global health challenges including pandemics, with equitable and affordable access to medicines and critical health supplies,” Jaishankar said.
The EAM made the remarks while addressing the 18th Russia-India-China Foreign Ministers meeting.
“I believe that our cooperation in areas like trade, investment, healthcare, education, science and technology and politics, etc., could significantly contribute to global growth, peace and stability. This would be in line with our common ethos of recognizing the ‘world as a family’ (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam). Our approach to global development should be human-centric and not leave anyone behind,” he said.
Commenting on the impending situation in Afghanistan, Jaishankar reiterated that “as a neighbour and long-standing partner, India is concerned about the recent developments in that country”, and that New Delhi “supports an inclusive and representative government in Afghanistan”.
“RIC countries need to work together to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches the Afghan people without hindrance and politicisation. It is necessary for the RIC countries to coordinate respective approaches on the threats of terrorism, drug trafficking and radicalisation,” he stressed.
Since joining the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member in January this year, India has been actively contributing to finding mutually acceptable solutions to international and regional issues, the EAM said.
“We believe that a multi-polar and re-balanced world based on sovereign equality of nations and respect for international law and contemporary realities requires reformed multilateralism,” he said in his statement.
