New Delhi: The External Affairs Minister S. Jaishhankar said on Friday that he believes that the basis for travel should be testing. He said that people who are tested before for international travel and tested on arrival is a good enough basis for travel.

Stressing that some understanding must be met he said that countries have now introduced the issue of vaccination.

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“So, we will have to reach obviously some understanding… I discussed today how do we make sure that we are not discriminated against and how do we reach understandings between ourselves about the travel of our citizens to each other’s countries,” Jaishankar said addressing a joint press interaction following a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov according to PTI. 

He said the Covid-19 has challenge has actually provided an occasion for India and Russia to demonstrate the strength of their cooperation.

“We are seeing that today in the production of Sputnik vaccine and I completely agree with my Russian counterpart. I think we have to protect our population and help the world and the two go together with that, they are part of the same issue,” he was quoted as saying by PTI.

Meanwhile, Jaishankar’s Russian counterpart, Lavrov said that Russia is ready to discuss the certification of citizens vaccinated against COVID-19 with India, and an agreement can be reached in this sphere. He also stressed that both countries were against the politicization of vaccines and attempts to be guided by unfair competition.

“We are ready to discuss the possibilities of coordinating our actions related to vaccinated citizens, regarding the certification of those who were vaccinated. I think that we can reach an agreement here, and it will serve as an example to other states,” he was quoted by PTI.

New Delhi: The External Affairs Minister S. Jaishhankar said on Friday that he believes that the basis for travel should be testing. He said that people who are tested before for international travel and tested on arrival is a good enough basis for travel.

Stressing that some understanding must be met he said that countries have now introduced the issue of vaccination.

ALSO READ: ‘Was Doing Business On Tourist Visa’, MHA Blacklists New Zealand Youtuber Karl Rock For 1 Yr

“So, we will have to reach obviously some understanding… I discussed today how do we make sure that we are not discriminated against and how do we reach understandings between ourselves about the travel of our citizens to each other’s countries,” Jaishankar said addressing a joint press interaction following a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov according to PTI. 

He said the Covid-19 has challenge has actually provided an occasion for India and Russia to demonstrate the strength of their cooperation.

“We are seeing that today in the production of Sputnik vaccine and I completely agree with my Russian counterpart. I think we have to protect our population and help the world and the two go together with that, they are part of the same issue,” he was quoted as saying by PTI.

Meanwhile, Jaishankar’s Russian counterpart, Lavrov said that Russia is ready to discuss the certification of citizens vaccinated against COVID-19 with India, and an agreement can be reached in this sphere. He also stressed that both countries were against the politicization of vaccines and attempts to be guided by unfair competition.

“We are ready to discuss the possibilities of coordinating our actions related to vaccinated citizens, regarding the certification of those who were vaccinated. I think that we can reach an agreement here, and it will serve as an example to other states,” he was quoted by PTI.

New Delhi: Israel’s newly-elected Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Monday said that he was looking forward to working with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to further develop the “unique and warm relations” between the two democracies.

Bennett, who took over as the country’s new Prime Minister on Sunday, said this while responding to Prime Minister Modi’s congratulatory message.

“Thank you Mr. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I look forward to working with you to further develop the unique and warm relations between our two democracies,” he tweeted.

Earlier, Prime Minister Modi congratulated Bennett on being sworn-in as Israel’s new Prime Minister and said that he looked forward to meeting him and deepening the strategic partnership between the two nations.

“Excellency @naftalibennett, congratulations on becoming the Prime Minister of Israel. As we celebrate 30 years of the upgradation of diplomatic relations next year, I look forward to meeting you and deepening the strategic partnership between our two countries. @IsraeliPM,” tweeted Prime Minister Modi.

READ: Who Is Naftali Bennett, Israel’s New Leader To Topple Longest-Serving PM Benjamin Netanyahu?

Prime Minister Modi also thanked outgoing Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his “leadership and personal attention” to India-Israel strategic partnership.

“As you complete your successful tenure as the Prime Minister of the State of Israel, I convey my profound gratitude for your leadership and personal attention to India-Israel strategic partnership @netanyahu,” Modi tweeted.

Meanwhile, Israel’s Foreign Minister Yair Lapid also said the new government in his country will work to “advance the strategic relations” with India.

“Thank you @DrSJaishankar I look forward to working together to advance the strategic relations between our countries and hope to welcome you to Israel soon,” he wrote on Twitter while responding to a congratulatory message from External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

Jaishankar earlier in his message said that he looked forward to working closely together with Lapid to “further advance our multifaceted strategic partnership”.

 “Congratulate APM & FM @yairlapid of Israel on his appointment. Look forward to working closely together to further advance our multifaceted strategic partnership,” he tweeted.

Bennett took over as Israel’s 13th Prime Minister on Sunday after being elected by the Knesset (Parliament).

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar will on Tuesday chair a meeting of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Ministers of Foreign Affairs/ International Relations via video conferencing during which the leaders will exchange views on the Covid-19 pandemic situation and countering terrorism besides other global and regional issues of concern.

 “India as the current BRICS Chair will convene the standalone meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs/ International Relations on 01 June, 2021,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in an official release earlier.

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“The ministers are expected to exchange views on the Covid-19 pandemic situation, the need for strengthening and reforming the Multilateral System with a view to enhancing its capacity to effectively address the diverse challenges of our time and to adapt them to contemporary realities, on global and regional issues of concern, sustainable development, Countering Terrorism besides discussing ways to enhance intra-BRICS cooperation, especially people-to-people cooperation,” the MEA added.

Brazilian Foreign Minister Carlos Alberto Franco França, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor are expected to participate in the meeting.

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will address his G7 meeting virtually as a ‘measure of abundant caution’ after some members of the India delegation accompanying him to the UK tested COVID-19 positive.

Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said, “Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases. As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 Meeting today as well.”

Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases. As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 Meeting today as well.

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 5, 2021

Jaishankar was to join ministers from the other G-7 guest nations for the first formal gathering over a working dinner on Tuesday evening and further meetings on Wednesday. The bilateral meeting scheduled with UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab at Chevening in Kent on Thursday is also expected to take on a virtual form.

“We deeply regret that Foreign Minister Dr Jaishankar will be unable to attend the meeting today in person and will now attend virtually, but this is exactly why we have put in place strict Covid protocols and daily testing,” a senior UK diplomat at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) told PTI.

On Tuesday, two members of the delegation tested COVID-19 positive with further test results still awaited, as per a report by PTI quoting sources.

New Delhi: India and the United Kingdom on Tuesday (May 4, 2021) signed a ground-breaking partnership migration deal that will boost work visas for Indian nationals. The landmark agreement will allow young Indian and British nationals to work and live in each other’s countries and accelerate the removal of illegal migrants.

India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and UK Home Secretary Priti Patel signed the ‘Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement’ which is aimed at supporting people to live and work in both countries while addressing long-standing problems of illegal migration from India to the UK.

“The living bridge between India and UK will get stronger as a result,” Jaishankar expressed.

A fruitful meeting this morning with Home Secretary @pritipatel. Signed the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement that would facilitate legal travel and encourage talent flows. The living bridge between India and U.K. will get stronger as a result. pic.twitter.com/vs8gdZtRAe

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 4, 2021

Patel said, “This landmark agreement with our close partners in the Government of India will provide new opportunities to thousands of young people in the UK and India seeking to live, work and experience each other’s cultures. This agreement will also ensure that the British Government can remove those with no right to be in the UK more easily and crack down on those abusing our system.”

A pleasure to welcome @DrSJaishankar to the @UKHomeOffice today as we signed the landmark Migration & Mobility deal as part of our New Plan for Immigration, providing new opportunities for our young people to live and work here and in India as we recover from the pandemic.

 pic.twitter.com/AWWorBRDze

— Priti Patel (@pritipatel) May 4, 2021

As per the UK’s Home Office, the agreement delivers on the UK Government’s fair but firm New Plan for Immigration – attracting the best and brightest and supporting people coming to the UK through legal routes, while stopping the abuse of the system and speeding up the removal of those who have no right to be in the UK.

“This professional and cultural exchange programme will work similarly to current Youth Mobility Schemes, with India being the first visa national country to benefit from this,” the UK said.

The historic agreement will also enhance and accelerate the processes to return Indian nationals with no legal right to stay in the UK and vice versa, and ensure greater co-operation around organised immigration crime.

In a first of its kind between India and the UK, both governments have agreed enhanced mobility provisions for young professional Indian and British citizens which will allow people to live and work in the two countries for up to two years.

The UK’s Home Office said that the deal builds on Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s previous pledge to deliver a quantum leap in the UK’s bilateral relationship with India.

As per a report, over 53,000 Indian students came to the UK to study in 2020, a 42% increase from 2019. Also, nearly a quarter of all international students in the UK are from India.

The agreement came hours before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK PM Boris Johnson’s virtual summit.