The Quad will remain strong despite changing leadership within the group, Anthony Albanese says, as the prime minister wrapped up talks with world leaders in the US.
Mr Albanese met with US President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Mr Biden’s home state of Delaware for the Quad Leaders’ Summit, the fourth in-person meeting of the group.
Leaders agreed to bolster support for preventing cancer deaths in the Indo-Pacific, as well as to improve cooperation between coast guard units in order to advance maritime safety.
The summit will be the last meeting attended by the outgoing president, along with the Japanese prime minister, who will also be stepping down from his role.
Mr Albanese said while the Quad will see new leaders come to the table for future meetings, the alliance remained strong.
“The fact that we have gathered here in Delaware, President Biden’s home state, is an indication of (the Quad becoming stronger),” he told reporters following the meeting.
“All four nations are committed to the Quad playing an important role.”
Leaders agreed to a Quad Cancer Moonshot Initiative, which aims to reduce the number of cancer deaths in Indo-Pacific countries, and will also increase access to HPV vaccinations and a boost to screening.
Australia will chip in $29.6 million for the initiative, $13.1 million of which will come from mining magnate Andrew Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation.
The program will see more HPV vaccination programs to prevent cervical cancer across the Pacific in countries such as Papua New Guinea, East Timor, Vanuatu and Fiji.
“The unifying principle of the Quad is that we can achieve more together than on our own. Our work on health is a powerful example of that,” Mr Albanese said.
“Australia is on track to be the first country in the world to eliminate cervical cancer. Yet beyond our shores, the story is very different, one-in-four global cervical cancer cases occur in the Indo-Pacific.”
Quad countries will also improve co-operation between coast guard units in order to advance maritime safety and interoperability.
Leaders also agreed to expand programs in the Indo-Pacific for maritime domain awareness to help other countries in the region crack down on illegal activities at sea, including fishing.
Mr Albanese said while the leaders’ forum was relatively young, it was able to grow significantly.
“The Quad is an important body, unlike a lot of international forums, it doesn’t have a long history, and that means it’s not defined by tradition,” Mr Albanese said.
“It also means it’s not constrained by it, which is why today’s discussion was very open, it was a discussion of like-minded democracies about how our co-operation can make a difference in the Indo-Pacific.”
In a joint statement that did not specifically name China, the leaders condemned “coercive and intimidating manoeuvres in the South China Sea”.
Following the summit, Mr Albanese held one-on-one talks with Mr Modi.
Despite revelations India’s government operated a nest of spies in Australia before it was disrupted by security agencies, Mr Albanese stressed the relationship between the two countries remained strong.
Mr Modi said on social media following the meeting India “greatly cherishes the time-tested friendship with Australia”.
The next Quad meeting is due to be held in India in 2025.
with Reuters
