Expressing serious concern over the “dangerous spread” of coronavirus and the mounting death toll, Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states said on Wednesday that the fight against Covid-19 requires coordinated and inclusive multilateral efforts under the UN system.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was among the Foreign Ministers of the eight-member SCO who attended an extraordinary video conference on Wednesday to discuss the cooperation to fight against Covid-19.
A joint statement issued at the end of the meeting said the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic requires strong, coordinated and inclusive multilateral efforts with the central role of the UN system.
The Ministers called for effective interaction of the SCO with the WHO and other international organisations and associations in the fight against coronavirus infection, it said.
In order to ensure epidemiological well-being and bio security in the region, the ministers consider it appropriate to adopt a comprehensive action plan of the SCO member states at the upcoming SCO summit in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The plan includes building the capacity of laboratories, improving the skills of specialists, conducting joint scientific research, developing vaccines and effective methods of treating diseases, the joint statement said.