TOKYO: Quad Senior Officials Meeting

TOKYO: Senior
Officials from the Ministry of External Affairs of India, Department of Foreign
Affairs & Trade of Australia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and
Department of State of the United States of America met by video conference on
12 August to continue their consultations. The Quad Foreign Ministers meeting
in February was followed by the historic first Leaders’ Summit held in March
2021 which adopted a positive vision and pledged to strengthen cooperation on
contemporary challenges.

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, ensure health security and a
quick economic recovery. 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.

The Officials discussed issues of common interest and explored possibilities of
collaboration in resilient supply chains, emerging and critical technologies,
maritime security, cyber security, counter-terrorism, infrastructure and
connectivity, higher education, climate change and humanitarian assistance and
disaster relief.

Recalling their shared values and principles, the Officials reaffirmed
commitment towards a free, open, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific region
based on respect for international law. They reiterated their firm support for
ASEAN centrality, ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and ASEAN-led mechanisms in
the regional architecture.

The Officials look forward to continuing regular consultations and the next
Foreign Ministers’ Meeting later this year.