Washington: Senior officials of the ‘Quad’ group from the US, India, Australia, and Japan held an important meeting to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in various areas of common interest. During this, special discussions were held about strengthening international institutions including the United Nations, promoting democracy and human rights, and supporting countries sensitive to ‘coercive actions’ in the Indo-Pacific region. The US State Department said in a statement that officials from the four countries met digitally as part of the regular Quad dialogue to promote a free and independent Indo-Pacific region. The purpose of this meeting was to meet President of the United States Joe Biden, Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, Japan during the first quad leaders conference.
They welcomed the opportunity for regular discussions at the level of ministers, at the level of senior officials, and at the level of functioning, the statement said. The second conference of leaders will be held this year. During this, dealing with China’s expansionist policies was also discussed. The leaders of the four countries had discussed this in the past. Officials of the Quad countries said in a statement that the four democracies recognized that global security and prosperity lay in the Indo-Pacific region remaining inclusive, resilient, and beneficial. In the meeting, officials discussed the importance of continued international cooperation to end the Covid-19 pandemic and economic recovery in the Indo-Pacific region.
The four countries had in 2017 materialized a long-pending proposal to form a ‘quad’ alliance to counter China’s aggressive behavior in the Indo-Pacific region. The officials specially discussed this. Let us tell you that under China’s expansionist policies, China has left its undue influence on small countries in this region. In view of this, the officers held this conversation in the light of the guidance given by their leaders.
