Italy is currently chair of the bloc of leading world economies G20

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar who is in New York interacted with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio on Tuesday and discussed challenges related to vaccine accessibility and smooth travel.

Taking to Twitter on Wednesday, Jaishankar said that he had a useful interaction with the Italian Minister.

“Useful interaction with @luigidimaio, Foreign Minister of Italy, the current G20 chair. Discussed challenges related to vaccine accessibility and smooth travel. Look forward to joining him at a discussion on Afghanistan tomorrow,” Jaishankar said in the Twitter post.

https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1440450505843503106?s=20

India is at the forefront of an appeal by developing nations to World Trade Organisation (WTO) to temporarily waive off intellectual property rights for the Covid-19 vaccines, diagnostics and other vital tools required to fight Covid-19.

The US on May 5 had assured its support with the hope that a temporary waiver will allow developing countries to manufacture their own vaccines. However, nations in the G20 bloc of leading economies has remained divided over the waiving of intellectual property rights for Covid-19 vaccines.

Earlier this month, the G-20 meeting of Health ministers was held in Rome to discuss coordinating strategies moving forward in tackling the coronavirus pandemic.

The countries had agreed to send financial assistance to poorer nations, along with more vaccines.