New Delhi: Senior officials of India and three other member nations of the Quad on Thursday held extensive talks on further advancing practical cooperation in areas of infrastructure, maritime security, counter-terrorism and connectivity with a broad objective of achieving a free and open Indo-Pacific. The US State Department said the officials examined ways to advance ongoing cooperation on numerous topics of mutual interest, including strategic challenges confronting the region, promoting democracy and human rights, strengthening international institutions and supporting countries vulnerable to "coercive actions" in the Indo-Pacific.
The mentioning of "coercive actions" in the US statement is seen as a reference to China's military assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. "The four democracies acknowledged that global security and prosperity depends on the region remaining inclusive, resilient, and healthy. They discussed the importance of sustained international cooperation to end the COVID-19 pandemic in the Indo-Pacific and to promote economic recovery," the US statement said.
It said the consultations were held to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific region and to build on the historic discussions between President Joe Biden and prime ministers of India, Japan and Australia in a virtual summit on March 12. In a separate statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said the consultations provided an opportunity to exchange views on the wide-ranging impact of COVID-19 in the Indo-Pacific region, and the importance of collaborative efforts to contain the pandemic and ensure health security. "In this context, they reviewed the progress of the Quad Vaccine initiative which was announced by the leaders, with the objective of enhancing vaccine production and equitable access," it said.
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It said the officials discussed issues of common interest and explored possibilities of collaboration in resilient supply chains, emerging and critical technologies, maritime security, cybersecurity, counter-terrorism, infrastructure and connectivity among others. The US State Department said the officials discussed the importance of peace and security in the Taiwan Strait, the ongoing crisis in Myanmar, and reaffirmed the Quad's strong support for ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. In its statement, the Japanese foreign ministry said the meeting also reviewed progress in discussions for cooperation in the areas of vaccines, critical and emerging technologies and climate change besides deliberating on the situation in East and South China seas.
It said the officials concurred on further advancing practical cooperation among the four countries on quality infrastructure, maritime security, counter-terrorism and cybersecurity with an aim to achieve a 'free and open Indo-Pacific'. It said the meeting welcomed the fact that a "free and open Indo-Pacific" is a vision for the peace and prosperity of the region and its importance in the post-COVID world is increasing and that this vision has spread in the international community, including ASEAN and Europe. "They reaffirmed the importance of broadening cooperation with more countries for its further achievement. In this regard, the officials reaffirmed their strong support for ASEAN's unity and centrality as well as the ASEAN-led regional architecture, and their full support for the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific," it said.
PTI
