 "Quad has come of age; its agenda makes it a force for global good: PM Modi")
The Quad has come of age and its agenda covering areas like vaccines, climate change and emerging technologies makes it a force for global good, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the first summit of the coalition.
In his opening remarks, he also talked about shared values and promoting a secure, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific. “We are united by our democratic values, and our commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. Our agenda today covering areas like vaccines, climate change and emerging technologies makes the Quad a force for global good,” he said.
The virtual summit was attended by US President Joe Biden, Australian PM Scott Morrison and Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga. “I see this positive vision as an extension of India’s ancient philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which regards the world as one family,” Modi said.
“We will work together, closer than ever before for advancing our shared values and promoting a secure, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” he said.
The PM said the holding of the summit shows that the Quad has come of age and it will now remain an important pillar of stability in the region.
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In his opening remarks, US President Joe Biden said a “free and open Indo-Pacific is essential” to all and the US was committed to working with its partners and allies in the region to achieve stability . Biden also described Quad as a new mechanism to enhance cooperation and raise mutual ambition as the member states address accelerating climate change. “A free and open Indo-Pacific is essential to each of our futures, our countries,” Biden told the top leaders of the Quadrilateral alliance, which has been often projected in the Chinese official media as an alliance against China’s rise. “This is a group particularly important because it is dedicated to the practical solutions and concrete results,” he said at the virtual summit, which is the first conclave of the top leaders of the Quad.
“We know our commitments...Our region is governed by international law, committed to all the universal values and free from coercion but I am optimistic about our prospect,” he said, in an apparent reference to China which is flexing its muscles in the strategically vital region. “The Quad is going to be vital in our cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and I look forward to looking closely to working with all of you in the coming years,” Biden told the Quad leaders as he requested Modi to speak. “It’s great to see you,” Biden, who is attending the summit less than two months after he took charge as US President, told Modi.
The other Quad leaders expressed similar excitement and willingness to collaborate in the Indo-Pacific region.
Australian PM Scott Morrison thanked Biden for brining in the four nations together and said that “'history teaches us that we are nations engaged together in a partnership of strategic trust of common hope and shared values, much can be achieved.'” Stating that it will be the Indo-Pacific which will now shape the destiny of the world in the 21st century, Scott said “as leaders of four great liberal democracies in Indo-Pacific let our partnership be the enabler of peace, stability and prosperity.”
Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga recalled the 2004 Tsunami disaster when Quad first member states came together. “We received massive support from the US, Australia, and India in our response to the disaster. Joe visited the affected area soon after the disaster, and I think you once again," he said.
Earlier in the day, China had said that state-to-state exchanges and cooperation should enhance mutual understanding and trust instead of “targeting” or “undermining” the interests of any third party and hoped that relevant countries will refrain from forming “exclusive cliques”.