Quad officials hold meeting, exchange views ‘on regional and global issues of common interest’

Sandeep Dikshit
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 18

On a day when India held border talks with China, it also touched base with the Quad grouping of the US, Australia and Japan, which share the same views about Beijing’s aggressiveness on the land borders as well as in the maritime domain.

Senior Foreign Ministry officials from the four countries interacted through a video conference to follow up on the last such official level discussions in September as well as the in-person meeting of Quad Foreign Ministers on October 6 in Tokyo.

The officials exchanged views on regional and global issues of common interest. They also reviewed ongoing and proposed practical cooperation in the areas of connectivity and infrastructure development, and security issues, including counter-terrorism, cyber security, maritime security, humanitarian and disaster relief, with the objective of promoting peace, security, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, said a MEA statement.

In the context of the ongoing pandemic, the officials underscored the importance of enhancing the resilience of supply chains for an expeditious and sustainable global economic recovery. They also highlighted the need to ensure safe, effective and affordable access to COVID vaccines.

The officials reaffirmed their commitment towards a free, open, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific region based on shared values and principles and respect for international law, especially the UNCLOS.

They appreciated the Vietnamese chairmanship of the ASEAN and expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the 15th East Asia Summit held in November this year. The officials reiterated their firm support for ASEAN-Centrality and ASEAN-led mechanisms particularly the leaders-led East Asia Summit, in the regional architecture for the Indo-Pacific, and their readiness to work with ASEAN and all other countries towards realising a common and promising vision for the Indo-Pacific, said the MEA.