Quad Summit: India to produce coronavirus vaccines for Indo-Pacific
On Friday evening, United States President Joe Biden, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, attended the historic Quad Summit, albeit virtually, and undertook a massive coronavirus vaccine initiative. Under the initiative, India will be producing vaccines for the Indo-Pacific region. Japan and the US will offer financial assistance, while Australia will contribute to logistics.
Aim is to manufacture billion doses by end of 2022
Divulging details about the summit, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said the leaders concluded that India's manufacturing capacity can be leveraged for manufacturing vaccines. The aim is to manufacture a billion doses by 2022-end. "We are talking about huge investments in creating additional vaccine capacities in India for exports to countries in the Indo-Pacific region for their betterment," he added.
We launched a landmark Quad partnership: PM Modi
Leaders agreed to meet for an in-person summit in 2021
All four leaders spoke about a free and open Indo-Pacific, which was seen as a veiled attack on China's aggressive nature. They promised to hold an "in-person" summit this year. This summit could happen on the sidelines of multilateral summits like G-7 (scheduled to happen in the UK in June) or G-20 summit (which could take place in Italy in October).
It's great to see you: Biden told PM Modi
Biden, who just took the oath in January, greeted PM Modi. "Prime Minister Modi...it's great to see you," he said. About a free Indo-Pacific, Biden said, "We are renewing our commitment to ensure that our region is governed by international law, committed to upholding universal values, and free from coercion." He added Quad will become a vital arena for cooperation in Indo-Pacific.
Quad has come of age, said PM Modi
Taking a similar tone, PM Modi said, "I see this positive vision as an extension of India's ancient philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which regards the world as one family. We will work together, closer than ever before, for advancing our shared values and promoting a secure, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific." He said today's meeting showed Quad has "come of age."
Let our partnership be the enabler of peace: Morrison
"Let our partnership be the enabler of peace, stability, and prosperity, and to do so inclusively with the many nations of our region to share in their vision, as expressed through ASEAN, for an open, inclusive — inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific," Morrison said.
Leaders are united in shared vision of free Indo-Pacific
Separately, Suga also batted for a free and open Indo-Pacific. "We bring diverse perspectives and are united in a shared vision for the free and open Indo-Pacific. We strive for a region that is free, open, inclusive, healthy, anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion," the joint statement read. The leaders said they want disputes to be resolved peacefully.
