Modi held a telephone conversation with Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday and stressed the need for coordinated efforts to tackle the global challenge of coronavirus, PM Modi and Saudi crown prince speak out on corona-virus.
Key Point
- The two leaders agreed that a similar exercise at the level of the G-20 leaders under the aegis of Saudi Arabia as the President of the G-20 would be useful globally.
- Modi stressed the need for coordinated efforts to adequately deal with this global challenge, which has not only affected the health and well-being of several hundred thousand people but is also at risk of adversely affecting the economy in many parts of the world. The Indian statement states.
- The statement said, “The Prime Minister and the Crown Prince decided that their officials would remain in close contact in this regard.
- Modi’s proposal for discussions at the G20 level was backed by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison over the weekend.
Coronavirus
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 – SARS-CoV-2, formerly known as provisional name 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), is an RNA virus. It is contagious in humans and is the cause of the ongoing epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which has been designated a public health emergency of international health by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Mohammad bin Salman
- Muhammad bin Salman Born: 31 August 1985 (age 34 years), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), colloquially known as MbS, he is the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. He is currently serving as the Deputy Prime Minister of the country (the post of Prime Minister conferred by the King) and Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, Council of Political and Security Affairs and Minister of Defense – the youngest post in the world at the time of his appointment. He has been described as the power behind the throne of his father, King Salman. He was appointed Crown Prince in June 2017 after King Salman’s decision to remove Muhammad bin Nayef from all posts.