Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed confidence in the strength of the Quad despite upcoming leadership changes within the group following talks with world leaders in the United States.
Albanese met with U.S. President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Delaware for the Quad Leaders’ Summit, marking the fourth in-person meeting of the group.
Leaders at the summit agreed to enhance support for cancer prevention efforts in the Indo-Pacific region and to improve collaboration among coast guard units to enhance maritime safety.
The summit served as the final meeting for the outgoing president and the Japanese prime minister, who are both stepping down from their positions.
Albanese emphasized that while new leaders will join future meetings, the alliance remains robust.
“The fact that we have convened here in President Biden’s home state of Delaware is a testament to the strengthening of the Quad,” he stated to reporters post-meeting.
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“All four nations are committed to the Quad playing an important role.”
Australia will contribute $29.6 million (US$20 million) to the initiative, with $13.1 million coming from Andrew Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation.
The initiative will involve expanding HPV vaccination programs to combat cervical cancer in countries like Papua New Guinea, East Timor, Vanuatu, and Fiji.
Albanese highlighted the collaborative nature of the Quad, stating, “Our work on health exemplifies how we can achieve more together than alone.”
“While Australia is making progress in eliminating cervical cancer domestically, the Indo-Pacific region still faces significant challenges,” he added.
The Quad countries also committed to enhancing cooperation among coast guard units to promote maritime safety and interoperability.
Additionally, leaders agreed to expand maritime domain awareness programs in the Indo-Pacific to assist regional countries in combating illegal activities at sea, such as illegal fishing.
Albanese noted the significant growth of the relatively young leaders’ forum, stating, “The Quad is a vital entity that, unlike many international forums, is not bound by tradition but driven by shared values and goals for the Indo-Pacific region.”
In a joint statement without direct mention of China, the leaders condemned “coercive and intimidating actions in the South China Sea.”
Following the summit, Albanese held discussions with Modi.
Despite reports of Indian espionage activities in Australia, Albanese emphasized the enduring strength of the relationship between the two nations.
Modi affirmed India’s appreciation for its longstanding friendship with Australia in a social media post post-meeting.
The next Quad meeting is scheduled to take place in India in 2025.
with Reuters
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