Quad officials meet to advance a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region
NEW DELHI, Dec 19, 2020: Senior officials from Japan, Australia, India, and the United States met virtually Friday as part of regular Quad consultations to advance a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
Yesterday’s meeting followed the productive discussions held in Tokyo during the second Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on October 6, 2020.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the participating officials concurred on further advancing practical cooperation on quality infrastructure, maritime security, counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief, and education and human resource development, toward the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”.
They also exchanged views on regional issues such as North Korea and the East and South China Seas.
It said that the officials reaffirmed the importance of broadening cooperation with more countries for the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” as the vision serves for the peace and prosperity of the region and its importance in the post-COVID world is increasing.
“In this regard, Japan introduced such developments as the Joint Statement of the 23rd Japan-ASEAN Summit on Cooperation on ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, announced at the Japan-ASEAN Summit Meeting in November, and the officials reaffirmed their strong support for ASEAN’s unity and centrality as well as the ASEAN-led regional architecture, and their full support for the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific,” stated a press release issued by the Japan foreign affairs ministry.
The officials concurred on continuing regular consultations and on coordinating the next Foreign Minister’s meeting at an appropriate timing next year, as concurred by the Foreign Ministers at the meeting on October 6.
The participants in the meeting included YAMADA Shigeo, Deputy Minister for Foreign Policy and ENDO Kazuya, Deputy Director-General, Asian and Oceania Affairs Bureau, from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Justin Hayhurst, Deputy Secretary (Indo-Pacific Group) and Dr. Lauren Bain, Assistant Secretary, ASEAN, and Regional Architecture Branch, from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ms. Vani Rao, Joint Secretary (Americas) and Naveen Srivastava, Joint Secretary (East Asia), from India’s Ministry of External Affairs, David Stilwell, Assistant Secretary of State (East Asian and Pacific Affairs) and Dean Thompson, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (South and Central Asian Affairs), from the U.S. Department of State.
A media note issued by the US Department of State said that the four democracies discussed practical ways to cooperate on countering disinformation, to strengthen supply chain resiliency, and to coordinate efforts to support countries vulnerable to malign and coercive economic actions in the Indo-Pacific region.
The participants also explored opportunities for future Quad engagement on topics ranging from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to coordinating efforts on COVID response and vaccines and expanding coordination in multilateral forums, including the United Nations and related organizations, it added.
“The officials reviewed recent strategic developments throughout the Indo-Pacific region, including the South China Sea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the Mekong sub-region. The officials reaffirmed the Quad’s strong support for ASEAN centrality and ASEAN-led regional architecture. The four countries welcome the opportunity to continue regular consultations, including at the Ministerial, senior official, and working levels as a testament to the growing diversity and depth of engagement among the Quad members,” the note further stated.
