Basis for global travel should be Covid testing, not vaccination: S Jaishankar

New Delhi: India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the basis for travelling abroad should be Covid testing, not vaccination. He was speaking to the media at a joint press interaction following a meeting with Russian minister Sergey Lavrov.

"I discussed today how do we make sure that we are not discriminated against and how do we reach understandings between ourselves about the travel of our citizens to each other's countries," said the External Affairs Minister. He said protecting our population and helping the world are part of the same issue.

The minister opined that people who are tested before and after taking the trip are good enough and requested that the countries need to reach an understanding as some nations have introduced the issue of vaccination.

Meanwhile,Lavrov said that Russia is ready to discuss the certification of citizens vaccinated against COVID-19 with India, and an agreement can be reached in this sphere. "It will serve as an example to other states," he added.

Lavrov also said that he completely agreed with his Russian counterpart after seeing the production of the Sputnik vaccine.

After the meeting, S Jaishankar said that the pandemic gave India and Russia an opportunity to demonstrate the strength of their cooperation.

The Russian leader also made it clear that both countries are against the politicisation of vaccines and unfair competition.