NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday had a telephone conversation with Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman and the two leaders discussed the global situation arising from the COVID–19 pandemic.During the conversation, PM Modi emphasised the need for coordinated efforts to adequately address the global challenge, which has impacted not only the health and well-being of several hundred thousand people but also threatens to adversely affect the economy in many parts of the world.The Prime Minister also mentioned India’s recent initiative to organise a video conference among the SAARC countries over the virus.The two leaders agreed that a similar exercise at the level of G20 leaders, under the aegis of Saudi Arabia as the chair of G20, would be useful at a global scale, both for discussing specific measures to address the challenges posed by the global outbreak of COVID-19 and also to instill confidence in the global populace.The Prime Minister and the Crown Prince decided that their officials would remain in close contact in this regard.