According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the virtual summit is a valuable opportunity to elevate multifaceted strategic relations and strengthen collaboration on regional and global issues of mutual concern.
“Both leaders will also address COVID-19 coordination and global measures to combat the pandemic,” according to the MEA.
During the summit, the MEA will also release an ambitious roadmap 2030, which will pave the way for further extending and deepening India-UK cooperation over the next decade in five main fields, namely people-to-people ties, commerce and development, defense and stability, climate action, and healthcare.
It should be noted that Johnson’s visit to India, which was scheduled for April 26, was canceled due to the country’s current COVID-19 crisis.
The UK Prime Minister’s visit was also canceled in January when he was asked to be the Chief Guest for the Republic Day festivities. It was canceled due to the UK’s nationwide lockdown.
That will have been his first trip abroad since the United Kingdom exited the European Union.
Jaishankar also attended the G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting in London earlier on Monday. India is an invited guest country at the G7 summit.
“The summit will be an important opportunity to strengthen our multifaceted strategic ties and collaborate on regional and global issues of mutual interest.” Both leaders will also discuss Covid-19 cooperation and global efforts to combat the pandemic, according to the ministry.
In response to the second wave of infections, the British Foreign Office said in a statement on Sunday that it will send 1,000 more ventilators from its surplus stock to support India’s Covid-19 response.
During their summit, Johnson and Modi will make a “huge range of commitments” to deepen cooperation, including fighting the pandemic, according to the statement.
