NEW DELHI: The Indo-Pacific region must remain an engine of global growth and stability and the Quad must work to ensure maritime security and enhance economic options in the region, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday.
In his opening remarks at the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting, he specifically called for “credible and transparent” partnerships to achieve peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
The New Delhi meeting was attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, and Jaishankar chaired the New Delhi meeting.
The Quad meeting came amid growing global concerns about China’s increasing military muscle-flexing in the Indo-Pacific region.
“Our focus will clearly be on the Indo-Pacific region, which is the defined boundary of the Quad,” the External Affairs Minister said in his televised opening remarks.
“At a global level, we must address issues such as supply chain resilience, narrow touchpoints, manufacturing and resource concentration and gaps in critical infrastructure. Each of these makes a new case for greater partnerships,” he said.
Jaishankar, without going into detail, also spoke of specific “concerns” facing the Indo-Pacific region.
“This will require strengthening strategic confidence, ensuring maritime security, enhancing economic options, and fostering a spirit of deeper cooperation. The best way to do this is to foster trusted and transparent partnerships,” he said.
“As maritime democracies, pluralistic societies and market economies, we share responsibility for a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The region must remain an engine of global growth and stability,” the Foreign Affairs Minister added.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong called for making the Quartet as strong and effective as possible.
She said that we are determined to continue the momentum of the Quad, and we want the Indo-Pacific region to be peaceful, stable and prosperous.
Rubio said the areas in which the Quad works together have become even more important due to recent events around the world.
He added that the Quartet can address some of the most important problems facing the world, including the areas of energy security, freedom of navigation and vital minerals.
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