“People who are tested before and after for COVID-19 is a good enough basis for international travel,” said Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, adding that some countries have now introduced the issue of vaccination for travelling. He stressed on the need to reach some understanding to ease the rules for travellers.

Jaishankar was addressing a joint press interaction following a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow.

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He said that he will make sure that Indians are not discriminated against, adding that the COVID-19 challenge has actually provided an occasion for India and Russia to demonstrate the strength of their cooperation.

“We are seeing that today in the production of Sputnik vaccine and I completely agree with my Russian counterpart.

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“I think we have to protect our population and help the world and the two go together that they are part of the same issue,” he said.

Lavrov, commenting on the cooperation between Russia and India in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, 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.

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“We are ready to discuss the possibilities of coordinating our actions related to vaccinated citizens, regarding the certification of those who were vaccinated. I think that we can reach an agreement here, and it will serve as an example to other states,” he said.

Lavrov stressed that both countries are against the politicisation of vaccines and attempts to be guided by unfair competition.

“I am confident that the majority of countries share this approach,” he said.