May 5, 2021
2 mins read

Raab, Blinken discuss pandemic, FTA

The G7 Ministers gathered Monday for a three-day meeting in London for the first time in two years to address such issues as economist recovery after the coronavirus pandemic and climate change…reports Asian Lite News.

In a first face-to-face meeting with UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the raging Covid-19 pandemic and a possible free trade agreement (FTA) between Washington and London.

The meeting took place in London on Monday ahead of the first in-person meeting of the G7)Foreign and Development Ministers in two years, reports Xinhua news agency.

“Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab hosted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at 1 Carlton Gardens ahead of this week’s G7 Foreign Ministers meeting. They held a discussion on foreign policy priorities and opportunities to strengthen the UK-US friendship,” a British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson said in a statement.

“Discussions included UK-US shared commitment to open societies, a strengthened multilateral system, efforts to build back better from COVID-19, including through the COVAX facility and a UK-US FTA,” said the spokesperson.

They also discussed latest developments in Afghanistan, Iran and Ethiopia, among other issues, according to the spokesperson.

During their joint press conference, Raab said that the world has changed quite a bit in the past two years, which brings challenges that require global solutions.

“Our societies and our economies have been shocked and shaken by coronavirus,” said Raab.

“There’s also rapid technological change which brings new opportunities, we’ve seen that with collaboration on things like the vaccine, but also acute challenges, and there are global threats from COVID to climate change that frankly demand global solutions and we’re committed to trying to find and forge those solutions,” he added.

Taking to Twitter, Blinken said: “Very good meeting with Dominic Raab on US-UK shared priorities with the Indo-Pacific, NATO, Ukraine, Iran, Burma, Ethiopia, and other global issues. An ever-closer Transatlantic partnership is critical to confront global challenges and build back better together.”

The G7 Ministers gathered Monday for a three-day meeting in London for the first time in two years to address such issues as economist recovery after the coronavirus pandemic and climate change.

The conference was reportedly held with strict Covid-secure measures being insured by organisers.

The last G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting took place in France in April 2019.

The UK holds the rotating presidency of the G7 group, which also includes the US, France, Germany, Canada, Japan and Italy.

The meeting this week will also be attended by representatives from the European Union, Australia, India, Japan, South Korea, and South Africa, as well as this year’s chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Brunei.

The G7 summit will be held in Cornwall, a seaside resort in southwestern England, on June 11-13.

Also Read-Dominic Raab replaces David Davis

Read More-Raab set for talks with EU

Previous Story

EU member states urged to ease travel curbs

Next Story

#OXYGENFRIENDSHIP: India Thanks World For The Support

Latest from -Top News

Deadly Fever Grips Senegal

Currently, there is no vaccine or antiviral treatment approved for human use against RVF. Senegal is facing a growing public health emergency as the death toll from a Rift Valley Fever (RVF)

Protest Crackdown in Abidjan

The protest ban came just a day before the planned march, with the prefect of Abidjan declaring all gatherings illegal to “preserve public order” ahead of the polls. Authorities in Ivory Coast

Seychelles Chooses Herminie

Herminie’s win gives his United Seychelles party full control of government after it reclaimed a parliamentary majority during last month’s general elections. Seychelles’s opposition leader, Patrick Herminie, has emerged victorious in the

Fragile Peace Returns to Gaza

Carrying bags, blankets, and a few salvaged belongings, families walked through the dusty highway under the afternoon sun. Many pushed carts or led donkeys loaded with what was left of their possessions.

Egypt to Host Gaza Peace Talks

Cairo summit aims to end war and open a new chapter for regional stability. The summit will gather leaders and senior officials from more than 20 countries, including the United Kingdom, France,
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Blinken to Meet Israeli Officials in Diplomatic Visit

Blinken has made multiple visits to Israel since the Hamas

‘Putin’s absence in G20 is consequence of tensions with G7’

The G20 Summit under India’s Presidency is scheduled to take