Tokyo/ New Delhi, May 24, (UNI) The third Quad Leaders' Summit got underway in Japan's capital Tokyo on Tuesday, with top leaders of India, US, Japan and Australia joining hands to reaffirm their commitment to a "free and open Indo-Pacific."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, United States President Joe Biden, newly elected Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japan Prime Minister Kishida Fumio will exchange views about developments in the Indo-Pacific region and contemporary global issues of mutual interest.
This Summit is the fourth interaction of Quad Leaders since their first virtual meeting in March 2021, in-person Summit in Washington DC in September 2021 and virtual meeting in March 2022.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the "Quad leaders will exchange views about developments in the Indo-Pacific region and global issues of mutual interest."
"The summit will provide an opportunity for the leaders of the four Quad nations to review the progress of Quad initiatives," he said.
The leaders will review progress of Quad initiatives and Working Groups, identify new areas of cooperation and provide strategic guidance and vision for future collaboration.
On Quad Leaders' Summit, United States National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that "significant security issues in the Indo-Pacific will come up during the Quad meeting as all the Quad members share an interest in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait."
Quad leaders are likely to highlight respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, among them Ukraine, in a joint statement after the meeting. But the document may avoid any explicit accusations against Russia considering India's historically close ties with Moscow. While repeatedly reiterating cessation of hostilities, India has so far maintained a balanced approach in matters of Russia and Ukraine.
The joint statement is also likely to touch upon the resolve of the participating countries to meet maritime challenges of the South China Sea, sources said.
After the Quad Leaders' Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have a bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden. The meeting will mark a continuation of their regular dialogue having interacted most recently in virtual mode on April 11 this year.
The two Leaders are expected to review the India-US Strategic Partnership and follow up on discussions held during their bilateral meeting in September 2021. They will also exchange views on regional and global developments of shared interest.
"I will hold a bilateral meeting with President Joseph Biden, where we will discuss further consolidation of our multi-faceted bilateral relations with USA. We will also continue our dialogue on regional developments and contemporary global issues," the PM said before his departure for Tokyo.
PM Modi will also have a bilateral meeting Japan PM Fumio Kishida.
The meeting will provide an opportunity for the two leaders to carry forward their conversations from the 14th India-Japan Annual Summit held in March 2022, when PM Kishida visited India.
"In March 2022, I had the pleasure of hosting Prime Minister Kishida for the 14th India-Japan Annual Summit. During my visit to Tokyo, I look forward to continuing our conversation further, with an aim to strengthen the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership," the PM said.
The PM said that economic cooperation between India and Japan is an important aspect of our Special Strategic and Global Partnership.
Modi said that during the March Summit, PM Kishida and he had announced their intention to realize JPY 5 trillion in public and private investment and financing over the next five years from Japan to India.
The Prime Minister will also have a bilateral meeting with the newly elected Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
"I look forward to a bilateral meeting with him during which the multifaceted cooperation between India and Australia under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and regional and global issues of mutual interest will be discussed," the PM said.
The last bilateral meeting between the Prime Ministers of the two countries was held virtually on March 21 this year followed by the signing of the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) on April 2.
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