Quad Meat: Foreign ministers of the Quad countries participated in the meeting organized by India in Delhi on Friday. The ministers reaffirmed the group’s commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The Quad members said that they strongly support the principles of rule of law, sovereignty and territorial integrity and peaceful resolution of disputes.
The Quad foreign ministers comprehensively reviewed the situation in the Indo-Pacific at a meeting chaired by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, his Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi and Australia’s Penny Wong.
The meeting took place against the backdrop of growing global concerns over growing Chinese assertiveness in the region.
“Our meeting today reaffirms the Quad’s firm commitment to supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient,” a joint statement said.
“We strongly support the principles of independence, rule of law, sovereignty and territorial integrity, peaceful resolution of disputes without threat or use of force and freedom of navigation and overflight, and strive to change the status quo oppose any unilateral effort, all of which are essential to peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.”
The Foreign Ministers stated that the Quad continues to act as a force for regional and global good, and will be guided by the priorities of the Indo-Pacific region through its positive and constructive agenda.
Through the Quad, the countries seek to support the region through practical cooperation on contemporary challenges such as health security, climate change and clean energy transition, critical and emerging technologies, infrastructure and connectivity, the statement said.
It also talked about addressing the debt crisis through sustainable, transparent and fair lending and financing practices.
“We agree that the rules-based international order is anchored in international law, including the United Nations Charter, and the principles of sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of all states,” it said.
“We remain committed to cooperating in consultation with our partners and through multilateral and international fora to address efforts to unilaterally undermine the United Nations and the international system,” the statement said.
“We, the Foreign Ministers of Australia, India and Japan, and the Secretary of State of the United States of America met in New Delhi, India on 03 March 2023 for the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Our meeting today reaffirms the Quad’s firm commitment to ” To support a free and open Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient. We strongly support the principles of independence, rule of law, sovereignty and territorial integrity, peaceful resolution of disputes without the threat or use of force and freedom of navigation and overflight, and any unilateral attempt to change the status quo oppose, all of which are essential for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond,” the joint statement read.
“We reiterate our firm belief that the Quad, acting as a force for regional and global good, will through its positive and constructive agenda be guided by the priorities of the Indo-Pacific region. Through the Quad, we Want to support the sector through practical means.” Cooperation on contemporary challenges such as health security, climate change and clean energy transition, critical and emerging technologies, infrastructure and connectivity, addressing the debt crisis through sustainable, transparent and fair lending and financing practices, space cooperation, cyber security, humanitarian assistance disaster relief (HADR), maritime security and counter terrorism,” it added.
Reaffirming our continued and unwavering support for ASEAN centrality and unity, and the ASEAN-led architecture – including the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum – we continue to support the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). We are committed to and will be guided in our work by the principles and priorities of ASEAN. We welcome Indonesia’s 2023 ASEAN Chairmanship and will support its Chair theme “ASEAN Affairs: Epicentrum of Development” as we identify concrete areas for the Quad to support ASEAN’s work. In addition, we are determined to further strengthen our respective ties with ASEAN. , thus setting a stage for greater Quad cooperation in support of AOIP,” it read.
Click here for full statement
(with PTI inputs)
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