Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, May 24: Quad member countries have decided to hold the next in-person summit in 2023, which will be hosted by Australia, according to a Joint Quad Leaders’ statement released on Tuesday.
Notably, Japan hosted the Quad Summit, which took place in Tokyo on Tuesday. The summit provided the Leaders with an opportunity to discuss developments in the Indo-Pacific region as well as current global problems of mutual relevance.
A new programme for continuing collaboration in the marine domain, space, climate change, health, and cyber security was launched during the Quad summit.
QUAD member countries pledged to face challenges in upholding rules-based maritime order, notably in the East and South China Seas, and to resist any forceful, provocative, or unilateral acts aimed at changing the status quo.
“We will champion adherence to international law, particularly as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the maintenance of freedom of navigation and overflight, to meet challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the East and South China Seas,” read the Joint QUAD statement.
The Quad leaders pledged to work together with regional partners that share their goal of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The group reiterated its ‘unwavering support’ for ASEAN unity and centrality, as well as the actual execution of the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Outlook.
The leaders also applaud the EU’s Joint Communication on the EU Strategy for Indo-Pacific Cooperation, which was released in September 2021, as well as increasing European participation in the region.
