SAARC video conference shows how leaders can present practical proposals: US official

The video conference by SAARC member countries over the coronavirus crisis shows how leaders can present practical proposals such as establishing a regional fund to combat global challenges, the United States said on Monday as it praised the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led initiative.

SAARC nations on Sunday vowed to jointly combat coronavirus as Prime Minister Modi proposed an emergency fund with an initial offer of USD 10 million from India.

"Global challenges require coordinated and agile responses. The recent videoconference among SAARC leaders on COVID19 showed how leaders can present practical proposals, such as establishing a regional fund," Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice G Wells tweeted.

"Let's all keep working together to fight this worldwide outbreak," Wells said.

Apart from Modi, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Nepalese Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, Bhutanese premier Lotay Tshering, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Special Assistant to Pakistani Prime Minister on Health Zafar Mirza, participated in the video conference.

We are in this together, tweeted Syed Akbaruddin, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

"India proposes to SAARC states COVID-19 Emergency Fund & offers USD10 million contribution, he said.

"Rapid Response Teams of doctors, specialists and testing equipment, already on standby. Officials to follow up proposals, Akbaruddin tweeted.