Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator the Hon Penny Wong met with India’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr S. Jaishankar as part of the Quad Ministerial Meeting in New York City.
This meeting between the Secretary of State of the United States and the Foreign Ministers of the Governments of Australia, India, and Japan was organized on the sidelines of the 77th United Nations General Assembly.
The Quad aims to deepen multilateral cooperation between Australia, India, USA, and Japan in support of advancing an inclusive and resilient free and open Indo-Pacific.
Senator Wong tweeted: “The Quad partners are working together to shape the world and region for the better.”
In a joint statement the Quad ministers said that “the Quad’s vision is for a region where the rules-based international order is upheld, and where the principles of freedom, rule of law, democratic values, peaceful settlement of disputes, sovereignty, and territorial integrity are respected.”
The ministers “reaffirmed our conviction that international law, peace, and security in the maritime domain underpins the development and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific.”
Further, they “strongly oppose any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo or increase tensions in the region.”
Ministers also reaffirmed their “unwavering support for ASEAN unity and centrality, ASEAN-led regional architecture, and practical implementation of ASEAN’s Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.”
Quad also underscored its “unwavering support for the UN Charter, including its three pillars,” and their “steadfast commitment to strengthening and reforming the UN and international system.”
The Quad affirmed “its support for a UN that solves the consequential challenges of our time and safeguards our shared and interconnected resources.”
This support also includes the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The ministers observe that their nations are “committed to advancing a comprehensive UN reform agenda, including through expansion in permanent and non-permanent seats of the UN Security Council, so that the Council reflects the current global realities and incorporates more geographically diverse perspectives. We underscored the need to address attempts to unilaterally subvert the international and multilateral system, including in the UN.”
The Quad ministers welcomed progress in delivering on Quad commitments especially the guidelines to operationalize the Quad Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Partnership for the Indo-Pacific announced by Quad leaders in May 2022.
Ministers observed that they look forward to the counter-terrorism tabletop exercise being hosted by Australia later in 2022. They also announced a statement on ransomware, calling on states to take reasonable steps to address ransomware operations emanating from a particular nation’s territory.
Further, the ministers reiterated the Quad’s commitment to supporting regional partners’ efforts to improve their maritime security and domain awareness. They said, “We support the ongoing efforts, in close consultation with regional partners, to take forward the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness.”
The Quad will continue to leverage its collective expertise to support the region to respond to other challenges, such as education and disinformation.
Ministers also agreed to advance the initiatives set forth by Quad leaders on “health security, climate change, infrastructure, peaceful use of outer space, critical and emerging technologies, and cybersecurity.”
The Foreign Ministers resolved that “Quad’s multilateral cooperation will be predicated on action-oriented engagement for the benefit of people throughout the Indo-Pacific.”
The next in-person meeting of the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting will be held in New Delhi in early 2023.
