India is playing the role as the “pharmacy of the world” during the COVID-19 pandemic with its vast experience and deep knowledge in medicine, setting the tone for many regional and global initiatives, said Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Secretary-General Vladimir Norov.
Norov in an interview told that India has so far supplied medicines to 133 countries in the fight against COVID-19, which shows country’s generosity, despite the fact that its government has taken urgent measures to prevent and treat the disease on a national scale.
This is a worthy and responsible example of the behaviour of a major power, and at the same time demonstrates the complementarity and mutual support of the SCO member states, he said.
Headquartered in Beijing, SCO is an eight-member economic and security bloc with China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as the founding members. India and Pakistan were admitted into the grouping in 2017.
Norov also said that India’s election to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for a non-permanent seat for the period of 2021-2022 is more than symbolic.
“I am sure that highly qualified scientists and medical professionals in India will take an active part in the efforts of the world community to study and research the coronavirus pandemic and develop a vaccine,” Norov said.
“India plays the role of the ‘pharmacy of the world’ and in terms of a pandemic it is crucial in a global context,” he said.
