Quad Foreign Ministers Meet: Working Towards Free, Stable Indo-Pacific
Asia News Agency
India and other Quad member-nations Tuesday reaffirmed the grouping’s steadfast commitment to work towards a free, open and peaceful Indo-Pacific amid China's increasing military muscle-flexing in the region.
Foreign Ministers of the member nations of the grouping pledged in a joint statement commemorating the 20th anniversary of "Quad cooperation”.
India, the U.S., Australia and Japan came together 20 years ago to extend assistance in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, and that coalition subsequently took form of the Quad.
In the last few years, the Quad has rolled out a number of initiatives addressing some of the most pressing needs and challenges of the Indo-Pacific region, including in areas of maritime security, infrastructure and connectivity.
India is scheduled to host the next Quad Summit that is likely to take place in the second half of 2025.
Joint statement
The Foreign Ministers of the four nations said the Quad would work together in responding to the future needs of the Indo-Pacific. "As four partners, we share a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific that is peaceful, stable and prosperous, underpinned by effective regional institutions," the joint statement said.
ASEAN's centrality: The Quad Foreign Ministers also talked about the centrality of the 10-nation grouping Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the Indo-Pacific. "We reaffirm our unwavering support for ASEAN's centrality and unity as well as mainstreaming and implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific," the Ministers said. "We respect Pacific-led regional architecture, foremost the Pacific Islands Forum. We are also steadfast in our support for the Indian Ocean Rim Association, the region's premier organisation," they said.
Disaster relief: The Quad Foreign Ministers also referred to the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami and how the four countries came together to respond to the challenges.
Addressing complex challenges Indo-Pacific: The Ministers also briefly highlighted the Quad's focus on addressing complex challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
The statement said the Quad countries now work together and with partners across the Indo-Pacific to address complex challenges — from fighting climate change, cancer and pandemics, to bolstering quality infrastructure, counter-terrorism efforts, critical and emerging technologies, and cybersecurity.
In the last Quad summit held in Wilmington in the U.S., top leaders of the grouping unveiled major steps to expand maritime security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. They also called for rules-based global order that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations.
