WASHINGTON: U.S. President Joe Biden will host the first face-to-face summit of leaders from “Quad” countries (Australia, India, Japan and the United States) next week, a senior U.S. official told Reuters on Monday.
The summit will be held at the White House on Sept. 24, the official said. The prime ministers of Australia, India and Japan – Scott Morrison, Narendra Modi and Yoshihide Suga – are expected to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week in the United States.
A virtual meeting of leaders of the Quad countries was held in March, who have tried to improve cooperation in the face of China’s growing power and assertiveness. At this meeting, the leaders pledged to work closely on Covid-19 vaccines and climate and to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific in the face of Beijing’s challenges.
“The reception of Quad leaders demonstrates the Biden-Harris Administration’s priority to participate in the Indo-Pacific, even through new multilateral configurations to meet the challenges of the 21st century,” he told Reuters l senior management.
Biden’s Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell said in July that the long-awaited face-to-face meeting should bring “decisive” commitments on vaccine diplomacy and infrastructure.
Biden, who is driving large spending on infrastructure at home, said in March that he had suggested to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson that democratic countries should have an infrastructure plan to rival China’s massive road and road initiative. which involves projects from East Asia to Europe.
The senior US official said the Quad leaders “will focus on deepening our ties and advancing practical cooperation in areas such as the fight against Covid-19, the resolution of the climate crisis, the association of emerging technologies and cyberspace and the promotion of a free and unfettered Indo-Pacific. ”
The vaccine initiative at the first summit stalled after India, the world’s largest vaccine producer, was hit by a catastrophic wave of infections and halted vaccine exports.
At the March summit, the four leaders agreed that Indian pharmacist Biological E Ltd would produce at least a billion doses of coronavirus vaccine by the end of 2022, mainly for Southeast Asian and Pacific countries.
Kyodo News of Japan reported last week that Suga would visit Washington this month for the Quad meeting, although his term as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (and by default as Japanese prime minister) will end on May 30. of September.
Suga became the first leader to hold a face-to-face summit with the Biden at the White House in April, underscoring Japan’s central role in U.S. efforts to confront China.
The Quad meeting will come after Biden’s image has been mistreated by the chaotic withdrawal of the United States from Afghanistan. U.S. officials have said ending America’s longest-running war will allow the administration to divert resources and attention to addressing China-related issues.
The summit will be held at the White House on Sept. 24, the official said. The prime ministers of Australia, India and Japan – Scott Morrison, Narendra Modi and Yoshihide Suga – are expected to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week in the United States.
A virtual meeting of leaders of the Quad countries was held in March, who have tried to improve cooperation in the face of China’s growing power and assertiveness. At this meeting, the leaders pledged to work closely on Covid-19 vaccines and climate and to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific in the face of Beijing’s challenges.
“The reception of Quad leaders demonstrates the Biden-Harris Administration’s priority to participate in the Indo-Pacific, even through new multilateral configurations to meet the challenges of the 21st century,” he told Reuters l senior management.
Biden’s Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell said in July that the long-awaited face-to-face meeting should bring “decisive” commitments on vaccine diplomacy and infrastructure.
Biden, who is driving large spending on infrastructure at home, said in March that he had suggested to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson that democratic countries should have an infrastructure plan to rival China’s massive road and road initiative. which involves projects from East Asia to Europe.
The senior US official said the Quad leaders “will focus on deepening our ties and advancing practical cooperation in areas such as the fight against Covid-19, the resolution of the climate crisis, the association of emerging technologies and cyberspace and the promotion of a free and unfettered Indo-Pacific. ”
The vaccine initiative at the first summit stalled after India, the world’s largest vaccine producer, was hit by a catastrophic wave of infections and halted vaccine exports.
At the March summit, the four leaders agreed that Indian pharmacist Biological E Ltd would produce at least a billion doses of coronavirus vaccine by the end of 2022, mainly for Southeast Asian and Pacific countries.
Kyodo News of Japan reported last week that Suga would visit Washington this month for the Quad meeting, although his term as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (and by default as Japanese prime minister) will end on May 30. of September.
Suga became the first leader to hold a face-to-face summit with the Biden at the White House in April, underscoring Japan’s central role in U.S. efforts to confront China.
The Quad meeting will come after Biden’s image has been mistreated by the chaotic withdrawal of the United States from Afghanistan. U.S. officials have said ending America’s longest-running war will allow the administration to divert resources and attention to addressing China-related issues.