India, China avoided open clash over origins of COVID-19 virus

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a transparent investigation at BRICS last week

India and China avoided an open clash over views on the origins of the COVID-19 virus at the BRICS summit last week, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong intervention in favour of a “transparent investigation” into the origins of the pandemic, a subject China has been sensitive about.

The two leaders will meet virtually again this week, as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit hosted by Tajikistan, the MEA announced on September 15, and Mr. Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi will both travel to Dushanbe on September 16 to attend the conference, with the tensions over the virus debate only adding to the 17-month-long .

“Today global governance needs credibility. There must be a transparent investigation into the origins of the virus under the World Health Organisation’s framework, and this must receive full cooperation from all countries,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his main speech at the Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa summit hosted by India and held virtually on September 9.