U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has spoken over phone with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during which she appreciated India's role as a critical partner in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and discussed the global economic outlook.
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This was Ms. Yellen’s first call with Ms. Sitharaman after she became the first female Treasury Secretary of the United States in January this year.
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During the call, she "conveyed her intention to collaborate closely to support a strong global recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, fight inequality, and advance a bold climate agenda," the Department of Treasury said in a readout of the call on Monday. Yellen appreciated India’s role as a critical partner in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, it said.
"The Secretary looks forward to cooperating with Minister Sitharaman, both bilaterally and multilaterally, to address shared priorities,” it said.
"Finance Minister Smt. @nsitharaman had a fruitful discussion on global economic outlook with US Secretary of Treasury @JanetYellen virtually. Dr. Yellen appreciated India’s contribution to the world’s vaccine efforts," Ministry of Finance said in a tweet.
Ms. Sitharaman congratulated Yellen on the well thought out COVID-19 relief through the USD 1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, with particular focus on working and middle-class. They agreed to work closely through common economic and strategic collaboration in various multilateral fora, including the G20, it said.
