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PM Modi on Saturday called for a ‘One Earth, One Health’ approach in the first outreach session of the G7 summit. He also highlighted India’s ‘whole of society’ approach to fight the pandemic.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called for a ‘One Earth, One Health’ approach and called for global unity, leadership and solidarity, while emphasising on the special responsibility of democratic and transparent societies to prevent future pandemics.

Participating in the first outreach session of the G7 summit through virtual mode, the Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the support extended by the G7 members and other countries during the second wave of Covid-19 in India, read a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

He highlighted India’s ‘whole of society’ approach to fight the pandemic, synergising the efforts of all levels of the government, industry and civil society, read an official statement. He also committed to India’s support for collective efforts to improve global health governance.

The session, titled ‘Building Back Stronger – Health’, focused on global recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and on strengthening resilience against future pandemics.

“He also explained India’s successful use of open source digital tools for contact tracing and vaccine management, and conveyed India’s willingness to share its experience and expertise with other developing countries,” the statement said.

The Prime Minister also sought support from the G7 for TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) waiver proposal on Covid related technologies, which was moved by India and South Africa at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

While sources say Australia and others came out strongly in support, the US has announced support for waiver of intellectual property rights on vaccine technology, which is one aspect of a range of Covid interventions.

“The Prime Minister committed India’s support for collective endeavours to improve global health governance. He sought the G7’s support for the proposal moved at the WTO by India and South Africa, for a TRIPS waiver on COVID related technologies,” the statement said.

It read further, “Prime Minister Modi said that today’s meeting should send out a message of ‘One Earth One Health’ for the whole world. Calling for global unity, leadership, and solidarity to prevent future pandemics, Prime Minister emphasized the special responsibility of democratic and transparent societies in this regard.”

Modi will participate in the final day of the G7 summit on Sunday (June 13) and will speak in two sessions.

The UK currently holds the presidency of the G7 and has invited India, along with Australia, South Korea and South Africa, as guest countries for the G7 summit. The meeting will be held in hybrid mode, according to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

The theme for the summit is ‘Build Back Better’.

This is the second time that Modi is participating in a G7 meeting. India was invited by the G7 French Presidency in 2019 to the Biarritz Summit as a “goodwill partner”. The Prime Minister also participated in the sessions on ‘Climate, Biodiversity and Oceans’ and ‘Digital Transformation’.

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India today

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