Quad leaders on Friday hold the first ever in-person summit in the East Room of White House where leaders from all Four Nations – India, US, Japan and Australia- reiterates its support and commitment to free and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
While delivering the initial remarks, the four leaders also hinted to discuss the various challenges faced by the world, collaboration in vaccine production and supply and cooperation in new areas of technology, infrastructure and people to people ties.
UPDATES:
US President Joe Biden: I welcome PM Morrison, PM Modi and PM Suga to White House for Quad’s in person meeting.This group has democratic partners who share world view&have common vision for future, coming together to take on key challenges of our age. When we met 6 months ago, we made concrete commitments to advance our shared & positive agenda for free & open Indo-Pacific. Today, I’m proud to say that they are making excellent progress. Our vaccine initiative is on track to produce an additional 1 billion doses of vaccine in India to boost global supply. Today, we are also launching a new Quad fellowship for students from each of our Quad countries to pursue advanced degrees in leading stem programs here in the United States, representing an investment in the leaders, innovators & pioneers of tomorrow.
Indian PM Narendra Modi: Our four nations met for the first time after 2004 Tsunami to help the Indo-Pacific region. Today, when the world is fighting against Covid pandemic, we have come here once again as Quad for the welfare of humanity. Our Quad vaccine initiative will help Indo-Pacific nations. Quad decided to go ahead with a positive approach on basis of our shared democratic values. I’d be happy to discuss with my friends-be it supply chain, global security, climate action,COVID response or tech cooperation. In a way, our Quad will work as a ‘force for global good’. I believe that our cooperation in Quad will ensure peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific as well as the entire world.
Australian PM Scott Morrison: The Quad is about demonstrating how democracies such as ours can get things done. There is no part of the world that is more dynamic than Indo-pacific at this time. We believe in a free and open Indo-pacific because we know that is what delivers a strong and prosperous region.
Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga: Quad is a very important initiative by the 4 nations that believe in fundamental rights & are of the view that Indo-Pacific should be free & open. Till date, Quad has given its absolute cooperation in big sectors, be it regional challenges or COVID-19. We look forward to further expand Quad cooperation in new areas. I would urge President Biden to lift the import restriction by the US for Japanese products like Rice.
