Abe and Trump discuss the situation over coronavirus

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President Donald Trump agreed Friday to cooperate over their countries’ coronavirus response and development of treatment drugs and vaccines, Report says, citing TASS.

During phone talks held at Japan’s request, Abe and Trump also explained efforts being made by their countries to contain COVID-19 and toward resuming economic activities.

The phone conversation, which lasted about 45 minutes, was the first between Abe and Trump since March 25 and was held at the request of the Japanese side.

They discussed progress on the development of drugs for the coronavirus, naming US-made antiviral remedy remdesivir and Avigan, an anti-influenza drug developed by a Japanese company, a Japanese official with access to the talks said.

Notably, the coronavirus outbreak emerged in late 2019 in Central China and has spread to 212 countries. WHO declared it pandemic on March 11.