The Quad leaders – US President Joe Biden, Indian PM Narendra Modi, Australian PM Scott Morrison and Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga – delivered their opening remarks at the East Room of the White House on Friday. 

Ahead of the summit, the White House said that the Quad leaders would announce a new working group on space, a supply chain initiative and a 5G deployment and diversification effort apart from discussing issues like challenges in the Indo Pacific, climate change and COVID-19 pandemic during their historic meeting.

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In November 2017, India, Japan, the US and Australia gave shape to the long-pending proposal of setting up the Quad to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence, amidst China’s growing military presence in the strategic region.

Joe Biden:

US President Biden started by saying that the grouping has a common vision for the future and the countries have come together to take on key challenges including COVID-19 and climate change.

“I am honoured to welcome PM Morrison, PM Modi, PM Suga for a first in-person meeting of Quad. This group has democratic partners who share world view and have a common vision for future, coming together to take on key challenges of our age,” Biden said in his opening remark.

“When we met six months ago, we made concrete commitments to advance our shared and positive agenda for free and open Indo-Pacific. Today, I’m proud to say that they are making excellent progress,” he added.

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Narendra Modi 

 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the security dialogue between the four nations — India, United States, Australia and Japan — will work as a ‘force for global good.’

“Our four nations met for the first time after the 2004 Tsunami to help the Indo-Pacific region. Today, when the world is fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic, we have come here once again as Quad for the welfare of humanity,” Modi expressed in his opening statements.

“In a way, our Quad will work as a ‘force for global good’. I believe that our cooperation in Quad will ensure peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific as well as the entire world,” the Prime Minister further added.

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Yoshihide Suga:

“Quad is a very important initiative by the 4 nations that believe in fundamental rights and are of the view that Indo-Pacific should be free and open. Till date, Quad has given its absolute cooperation in big sectors, be it regional challenges or COVID-19,” Suga said.

“Good to see you here (Leaders), this is the first in-person meeting between us and the meeting reflects strong ties among four of the nations, Quad is an important step towards open and free Indo-Pacific trade,” Suga added.

Scott Morrison 

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison stressed on the importance of a “free and open” Indo-Pacific. 

Morrison said the Indo-Pacific should be free from coercion, addressing a concern about China’s increasing assertiveness and growing influence in the region.