India ready to jointly fight coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic: PM Narendra Modi’s response to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s tweets

Israeli PM and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro had thanked PM Modi for allowing the export of raw materials to their country to produce hydroxychloroquine.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (April 9, 2020) said that India is ready to help its `friends` in combating the deadly coronavirus and called for joint efforts to fight against the pandemic, which has claimed over 95,000 lives across the globe so far.

"We have to jointly fight this pandemic. India is ready to do whatever is possible to help our friends. Praying for the well-being and good health of the people of Israel," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet.

We have to jointly fight this pandemic.

India is ready to do whatever is possible to help our friends.

Praying for the well-being and good health of the people of Israel. @netanyahu https://t.co/jChdGbMnfH — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 10, 2020

PM Modi made these remarks while replying to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's tweet of appreciation for India’s decision to supply Hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug, seen as useful in the treatment of COVID-19.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephone conversation on April 3 with Benjamin Netanyahu where the two leaders discussed the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the response strategies adopted by their respective governments to counter the health crisis.

The leaders also explored possible collaboration between India and Israel in fighting the pandemic, including by improving the availability of pharmaceutical supplies and by innovative use of high technology.

Replying to a tweet from Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro, PM Modi said that the India-Brazil partnership is stronger than ever in these challenging times. India is committed to contributing to humanity's fight against this pandemic, he added.

Thank you President @jairbolsonaro. The India-Brazil partnership is stronger than ever in these challenging times.

India is committed to contribute to humanity's fight against this pandemic. https://t.co/uIKmvXPUo7 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 10, 2020

Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro had thanked PM Narendra Modi for allowing the export of raw materials to his country to produce hydroxychloroquine.

Bolsonaro was one of the leaders Prime Minister Modi spoke to over the weekend in his continuing interaction with world leaders since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump thanked PM Modi and the people of India for lifting curbs on the export of hydroxychloroquine. "Extraordinary times require even closer cooperation between friends. Thank you, India and the Indian people for the decision on HCQ. Will not be forgotten! Thank you Prime Minister @NarendraModi for your strong leadership in helping not just India, but humanity, in this fight!" Trump had said in a tweet.

India is the largest manufacturer of hydroxychloroquine in the world but the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) had banned exports of the drug and its ingredients in view of the rapid rise in the infection-related cases in the country.