Quad vows to allocate $50 billion for infrastructure in Indo-Pacific region

Leaders during the QUAD summit in Tokyo, Japan on Tuesday condemned North Korea's "destabilizing" ballistic missile launches and called on the international community to abide by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida during the India-Japan bilateral meeting in Tokyo, Japan.

Reaffirming shared commitment to deepen cooperation on infrastructure, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) countries on Tuesday agreed to allocate USD 50 billion for infrastructure and investment in the Indo-Pacific region over five years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the second in-person Quad Leaders' Summit in Tokyo today, along with leaders of Japan, the US and Australia.

During the summit, leaders reiterated their shared commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific and the importance of upholding the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and peaceful resolution of disputes.

On the sidelines of bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the newly-elected Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday said that the relationship with India is very important and ties between the two countries have never been more closer.

Speaking to ANI, the Australian PM said, "Our relationship with India is a very important one and it was a great honour to meet with Prime Minister Modi."

We'll champion adherence to international law as reflected in UN Convention in East and South China Seas: Quad Joint Leaders' Statement.

The leaders of Australia, India, Japan, and the US on Tuesday launched the Quad Fellowship in Tokyo, wherein 100 students from members countries will be sponsored to study in the US for graduate degrees in science, tech, engineering and math (STEM).

"This fellowship will become a bridge that connects our four nations and it will empower us to lead and to grow so that we can resolve many of the challenges of the Indo-Pacific region and around the world," said Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the launch of the event.

Kishida, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and US President Joe Biden and Australian PM Anthony Albanese open an application for Quad Fellowship.

• We took part together in a positive and useful Quad Summit today. India and US partnership in the true sense is a partnership of trust. Our common interests and values have strengthened this bond of trust between our two countries: PM Modi during bilateral talks with US President Joe Biden
• We share similar views on Indo-Pacific, at the bilateral level, as well as with like-minded countries to work to protect our common concerns. Our discussions today will give speed to this positive momentum: PM Modi in Tokyo
• I am confident that with the conclusion of the US Investment Incentive Agreement we will see concrete progress in investment between our two countries: PM Modi
• Our people-to-people ties and strong economic cooperation make India-US partnership unique. Our trade and investment relations are also steadily on the rise but they are below our potential: PM Modi

• I'm pleased that we have reached an agreement for US Development Finance Corporation to continue this important work in India, supporting vaccine production and clean energy initiatives. I'm glad we are renewing the Indo-US Vaccine Action Program, says US President Joe Biden in a bilateral meeting with PM Modi
• We also discussed the ongoing effects of Russia's brutal and non-justified invasion of Ukraine and the effect it has on the entire global world order. The US-India is going to continue to consult closely on how to mitigate these negative effects: Biden
• Mr. Prime Minister, there is so much that our countries can and will do together. I'm committed to making the US-India partnership among the closest we have on earth: US President Joe Biden in a bilateral meeting with PM Narendra Modi, in Tokyo

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now holding bilateral talks with US President Joe Biden

According to a senior official, in a closed session of the Quad Summit in Tokyo, US President Joe Biden praised PM Modi for handling pandemic successfully in a democratic manner. The below-mentioned remarks by President Biden appeared to be unscripted, as he made a special intervention to say this before his prepared remarks.

• He contrasted India's success with China's failure to handle pandemic, though both countries are of comparable size
• He added that PM Modi's success has shown the world that democracies can deliver, he also busted myth that autocracies like China and Russia can handle the rapidly changing world better because their leadership can take and implement decisions without going through lengthy democratic processes

Japanese PM Kishida appreciated India's contribution and recalled that Indian-made vaccines delivered under the Quad Vaccine initiative were received with gratitude in Thailand and Cambodia recently. He noted that in Cambodia, PM Hun Sen himself attended the handing over ceremony: Sources

Quad leaders at the Tokyo summit are set to launch a range of initiatives, including a maritime security partnership, that will allow the member countries to monitor illegal fishing, track "dark shipping" and other tactical-level activities.

"The benefit of this maritime initiative will allow tracking of dark shipping and other tactical-level activities, such as rendezvous at sea, as well as improve partners' ability to respond to climate and humanitarian events and to protect their fisheries, which are vital to many Indo-Pacific economies," said the White House in a media statement on the sidelines of Quad Summit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold bilateral talks with Joe Biden and Australian PM Anthony Albanese in a short while

White House statement on Quad Summit

• The Russian invasion of Ukraine squarely challenges the principles which are enshrined in the UN Charter: Japanese PM Fumio Kishida at Quad Leaders' Summit in Tokyo
• We should listen carefully to voices of the countries in the ASEAN, South Asia as well as the Pacific Island countries, so as to further advance cooperation, conducive to solving urgent issues facing the vision (for Indo Pacific Region): Japanese PM 
• The Russian invasion of Ukraine challenges the principles enshrined in UN Charter: Japanese PM Kishida
• The Russian invasion of Ukraine, an incident that shook the very foundation of international order - with the participation of President Biden, PM Modi and PM Albanese, we have been able to send off a powerful message of commitment by the four leaders from Tokyo to the whole world: Japanese PM
• The four of us committed that unilateral change of status quo by force will never be allowed in any region, especially in the Indo Pacific and that a free and open Indo Pacific is ever more relevant today: Japanese PM Fumio Kishida in Tokyo
• During the meeting, Australian Prime Minister Albanese offered to host next year's Quad Summit in Australia, says Japanese PM Fumio Kishida
• In the international situation, each country has its own historical developments and geographical situation. Even amongst like-minded, positions may not agree fully. But deepened mutual understanding and cooperation crucial among Quad members: Japanese PM on India's stand on Russia and its impact on Quad
• For the Ukrainian situation, amongst the four leaders, including India, we were able to reaffirm the importance of various principles like rule of law, sovereignty and territorial integrity and unilateral change of status quo or force shall never be allowed in any region: Japanese PM Fumio Kishida

• Putin is just trying to extinguish a culture. This is more than just a European issue, it's a global issue. The global food crisis may worsen by Russia blocking Ukraine from exporting its grains. As long as Russia continues the war, the US will work with its partners: US President Biden
• The US will be a strong, steady and enduring partner in Indo-Pacific. We are Indo-Pacific powers. As long as Russia continues the war, we are going to be partners and lead a global response. We stay together for the shared values and vision we have: Joe Biden at Quad leaders' meet
• The Quad has a lot of work ahead of us. We have a lot of work to keep this region peaceful and stable, tacking this pandemic and next and addressing the climate crisis: US President Joe Biden

• First of all, I congratulate (Australian) PM Anthony Albanese and extend my best wishes for winning the elections. Your presence amongst us 24 hrs after taking the oath reflects the strength of Quad friendship and your commitment towards it: PM Modi at Quad Leaders' Summit in Tokyo
• Quad has made an important place for itself before the world in such a short span of time. Today, Quad's scope has become extensive, its form effective. Our mutual trust and our determination are giving new energy and enthusiasm to democratic powers: PM Modi
• At the Quad level, with our mutual cooperation, a free, open and inclusive Indo Pacific Region is getting encouraged - it is the shared goal of all of us: PM Narendra Modi at Quad Leaders' Summit, in Japan's Tokyo
• Despite the adverse situation of COVID-19, we have increased our coordination for vaccine delivery, climate action, supply chain resilience, disaster response, economic cooperation & other areas. It has ensured peace, prosperity&stability in Indo-Pacific: PM at Quad Leaders' Summit
• Our mutual trust and determination is giving new energy to democratic forces: PM Modi at Quad summit in Tokyo
• I encourage our students to apply for the Quad Fellowship programme and join the next generation of STEM leaders and innovators building a better future for humanity: PM Narendra Modi

• My govt is committed to working with your countries. The new Australian govt gives priority to taking action on climate change and building a more resilient Indo-Pacific region through economic, cyber, energy, health &environmental security: Australian PM Albanese at Quad Leaders'meet
• As the Indo-Pacific has reshaped, the Quad partnership is needed now more than ever. The region is looking to us to lead by example: Australian PM Albanese at Quad leaders' meet
• We will act in recognition that climate change is the main economic and security challenge for the island nations of the Pacific. My govt will set a new target to reduce emissions by 43% by 2030 putting us on track for net-zero emissions by 2050: Australian PM Albanese
• We will bring more resources and energies to securing our region as we enter a new and more complex phase in the Pacific strategic environment. We'll continue to stand with you, our like-minded friends & collectively stand for each other: Australian PM Albanese at Quad leaders' meet

In March last year, President Biden hosted the first-ever summit of the Quad leaders in the virtual format that was followed by an in-person summit in Washington in September.

The Quad leaders also held a virtual meeting in March.

The Quad has been focusing on cooperation in areas such as producing vaccines, connectivity projects, facilitating the mobility of students, and looking at promoting startups and technology collaboration.

US President Joe Biden is likely to use the summit to showcase Washington's strong commitment to the Indo-Pacific region and may call for further revitalising the grouping's framework for cooperation.

In line with its long-term vision for the region, Biden on Monday launched the ambitious Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), which is an initiative aimed at deeper cooperation among like-minded countries in areas such as clean energy, supply-chain resilience and digital trade.

In a statement, before he left for Japan on Sunday, Modi said the summit will provide an opportunity for the leaders to review the progress of the Quad initiatives and exchange views about developments in the Indo-Pacific region and global issues of mutual interest.

The summit is expected to lay a long-term strategic groundwork to further solidify cooperation for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. Delving into the implications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine is also expected to be the central focus of the summit. 

The leaders of the Quad, comprising India, the United States, Australia and Japan, are set to demonstrate that the grouping is a "force for global good" and has a unifying commitment to a rules-based international order amid China's increasingly intimidatory behaviour.

The Quad leaders are also set to discuss the Russian military offensive in Ukraine and the humanitarian as well as security implications of the conflict.