New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga are attending the Quad summit, which is the first summit of the Quad leaders held virtually this evening.
The leaders of the Quad—which includes India, Australia, Japan and the US—will decide on specific areas of cooperation to boost post-pandemic recovery and maritime security across the Indo-Pacific.
Vaccine initiative will be one of the major issues to be discussed. This is likely to allow new manufacturing capacity to be added in India for exports to the Indo-Pacific region.
In their introductory remarks, all four leaders emphasised the need for co-operation amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi was the first to speak in the meeting.
Talking about the regional and global issues of shared interest, and exchange views on practical areas of cooperation towards maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, PM Modi said, “I thank President Biden for this initiative. We’re united by our democratic values and our commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. Our agenda today covers vaccines, climate change and emerging technologies makes the QUAD a force for global good. I see this positive philosophy as part of Indian ideology of Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam.”
“Quad has come of age and will remain an important pillar of stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” added PM Modi.
US President Biden, who inaugurated the virtual meeting, said, “Quad is going to be a vital arena for cooperation in Indo-Pacific, says US President Joe Biden at first Quad summit.” He also addded that he will focus on generating domestic demand and global growth.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said, “It’s the Indo-Pacific that’ll now shape the destiny of the world in the 21st Century. As four leaders of great democracies in Indo-Pacific, let our partnership be an enabler of peace, stability & prosperity and to do so inclusively with many nations in the region.”
While the four countries held the meet to increase cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, China ahead of the summit issued a statement, saying exchanges and cooperation between countries should contribute to mutual understanding rather than targeting a third party and refrain from pursuing exclusive blocs.
“We hope that relevant countries uphold the principles of openness, inclusiveness and win-win results and refrain from pursuing exclusive blocs and do things that are conducive to regional peace, stability and prosperity,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian.
The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (abbr. QSD, also known as the Quad or Asian NATO) is an informal strategic forum between the United States, Japan, India and Australia that is maintained by semi-regular summits, information exchanges and military drills between member countries.