Jaishankar, Blinken discuss COVID-19 vaccines, India-China border issue

Meeting focussed on India-U.S. vaccine partnership, says External Affairs Minister

External Affairs Minister discussed a range of issues on Friday, including COVID-19 vaccine procurement, India-China border issues (according to the U.S.), climate change, the Quad and the bilateral relationship. Discussions around vaccine procurement for India and issues – such as indemnity for vaccine manufacturers – are still being resolved. Also read: “I’m not going to get into the very specific angles of what was discussed, but certainly, vaccine manufacturing procurement, delivery – the larger question of how we can cooperate together both bilaterally and on the larger Quad context – were covered today,” Acting Assistant Secretary Dean Thompson, who was present at the meeting, said in response to a question from The Hindu. Both he and Mr. Jaishankar addressed the Indian press separately after the bilateral meeting.