QUAD Summit: Meeting For Global Good, Will Ensure Peace In Indo-Pacific Region, Says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is joined by his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison, Japan’s Yoshihide Suga and US President Joe Biden in the Quad Summit talk.

Leaders attending QUAD Summit (PTI Photo)

Washington DC: The Quadrilateral Framework (Quad) Leaders’ Summit has begun at the White House.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is joined by his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison, Japan’s Yoshihide Suga and US President Joe Biden in the Quad Summit talk.

READ: Mr. PM, We Are Going To Continue Building Our Strong Partnership: Prez Biden After Meeting PM Modi

Key Highlights:

‘Quad- A Force For Global Good’: PM Modi

“The Quad- a force for global good,” the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted.

Prime Minister Modi in his opening remarks said “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-19 pandemic, we have come here once again as Quad for the welfare of humanity,” he added.

Prime Minister Modi said “our Quad vaccine initiative will help the Indo-Pacific nations”.

“Quad decided to go ahead with a positive approach on basis of our shared democratic values. I would be happy to discuss with my friends-be it supply chain, global security, climate action, COVID response or tech cooperation,” he added.

‘This Group Has Common Vision For Future’: President Biden

The US President in his opening remarks welcomed the three leaders, including Prime Minister Modi, for the Quad’s in person meeting.

“I welcome PM Morrison, PM Modi and PM Suga to the White House for Quad's in person meeting. This group has democratic partners who share world view and have common vision for future, coming together to take on key challenges of our age,” Biden said.

“When we met six months ago, we made concrete commitments to advance our shared and positive agenda for free and open Indo-Pacific. Today, I am proud to say that they are making excellent progress,” he added, ANI reported.

The US President said “our vaccine initiative is on track to produce an additional 1 billion doses of vaccine in India to boost global supply”.

‘No Part Of The World Is More Dynamic Than Indo-Pacific’: Australian PM

The Australian Prime Minister in his opening remarks said 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,” said Morrison.

“We believe in a free and open Indo-pacific because we know that is what delivers a strong and prosperous region,” he added.

Quad Shows Commitment ‘For A Free And Open Indo-Pacific Region’: Japanese PM

The Japanese Prime Minister in his opening remarks said the Quad Leaders' Summit shows the commitment the four nations have “for a free and open” Indo-Pacific region.

“We have come here for the first in-person Quad Leaders' Summit. This Summit shows the relations shared by our four nations and the commitment we have for a free and open Indo-Pacific region, he said, ANI reported.

Suga said the Quad is a “very important initiative by the four nations that believe in fundamental rights and are of the view that Indo-Pacific should be free and open”.

“Till date, Quad has given its absolute cooperation in big sectors, be it regional challenges or COVID-19,” he added.

Suga looked forward to a ‘good and relevant’ Summit.

“I hope that we will have a good and relevant Summit. Besides this, the bans that were placed (that has now been lifted by the US) on Japanese food products, I had requested you in April for it (to lift the ban). It's a huge step that you took, thank you for it,” he said.

The Indian delegation, including External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, are accompanying Prime Minister Modi during the Quad Summit.

The Quad leaders are expected to discuss the Afghan crisis and its implications, regional security, Covid-19 pandemic and climate change besides other important issues.