US President Joe Biden speaks during the Quad summit with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, in the East Room of the White House, Sept 24, 2021, in Washington. (EVAN VUCCI/AP)
WASHINGTON – Leaders of the Quad vowed on Friday to "advance practical cooperation on 21st-century challenges" including the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis and emerging technologies.
The occasion of the Quad summit is an opportunity to refocus ourselves and the world on the Indo-Pacific and on our vision for what we hope to achieve.
Quad leaders
"The occasion of the Quad summit is an opportunity to refocus ourselves and the world on the Indo-Pacific and on our vision for what we hope to achieve," according to a joint statement by the leaders of the Quad, an informal strategic dialogue between the United States, Japan, Australia and India.
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The leaders, who held their first in-person meeting at the White House, have put forth "ambitious initiatives that deepen our ties and advance practical cooperation on 21st-century challenges," the White House said in a document published on its website.
The leaders aimed at ending the COVID-19 pandemic by increasing production and access to safe and effective vaccines, reads the document.
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They also vowed to promote high-standard infrastructure, combat the climate crisis, partner on emerging technologies, space and cybersecurity and cultivate next-generation talents in all of Quad countries, it said.
Friday's summit gathered US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.