SFA Locsin, Indian Ambassador Kumaran Ramps up Vaccine Cooperation

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. (left) with Indian Ambassador Shambhu S. Kumaran (right) (Photo by DFA-OPCD Camille Barizo)

PASAY CITY 19 MARCH 2021 — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. and Indian Ambassador Shambhu S. Kumaran discussed ways to ramp up vaccine cooperation between the Philippines and India as well as the dynamic state of Philippines-India cooperation in the areas of maritime security, counter-terrorism, cyber-security, space, energy and information and communications technology (ICT) on 12 March 2021.

Recalling the telephone conversation between President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2020, Secretary Locsin reiterated the country’s interest to secure more supplies of COVID-19 vaccines from manufacturing companies in India.

Secretary Locsin also welcomed the burgeoning ties between the Philippines and South Asia’s economic powerhouse and highlighted the recent steps forward in the areas of defense, health and pharmaceutical cooperation, and disaster preparedness. Ambassador Kumaran, meanwhile, underscored the strong complementarities between Prime Minister Modi’s Act East Policy and President Duterte’s independent foreign policy and the need for security and stability in the Indo-Pacific and Southeast Asian regions. END

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. (first from left) was joined by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs Brigido J. Dulay, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs Neal Imperial, Chief of Staff Jaime Ramon T. Ascalon, Jr., South Asia Director Anna Santos, and Atty. Shiena Escoto-Tesorero. Indian Ambassador Shambhu S. Kumaran (second from left), was joined by Ms. Manisha Swami, Counsellor of the Embassy of India. (Photo by DFA-OPCD Camille Barizo)

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. (right) discusses with Indian Ambassador Shambhu S. Kumaran (left) the country’s interest to ramp up vaccine cooperation with India. (Photo by DFA-OPCD Camille Barizo)