Prime Minister Narendra Modi held extensive discussions on COVID 19 pandemic with his Portugal counterpart Antonio Costa over phone yesterday. In a tweet, Mr Modi said India and Portugal will continue to work together and support each other in these trying times, especially in ensuring supplies of medical products and sharing research and best practices. The two leaders discussed the steps being taken by both countries to control health and economic impact of the COVID 19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Modi commended Mr Costa for his effective handling of the crisis. The Portugese Prime Minister also congratulated Mr Modi on the good results achieved in containing the pandemic in a country as large and populous as India. They noted that proactive national measures were helpful in containing the spread of the virus. They offered all possible help to each other in dealing with the situation and agreed to collaborate on research and innovation aimed at fighting COVID-19.

Mr Modi thanked Mr Costa for extending validity of visas of Indian travellers to Portugal who could not return because of the lockdown. Prime Minister Costa expressed his appreciation for the facilitation provided by Indian authorities to Portuguese citizens in India. The leaders agreed to remain in touch and consult each other on the evolving dimensions of the crisis as well as the post-Covid context. During the conversation, Mr Modi, recalled the State Visit of President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to India in February.