India looks forward to seeking collective solutions to global challenges, including global recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and reform of multilateral institutions, as it assumes membership of the UN Security Council next year, said Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar.

“The events of this year have clearly demonstrated how imperative it is for like minded countries to coordinate responses to the various challenges that the pandemic has brought to the fore. As we collectively navigate these uncharted waters, we seek to emerge from the pandemic more resilient than ever before,” said Jaishankar at the second Quad Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo, Japan on Tuesday.

The meeting was also attended by Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Toshimitsu Motegi, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia Marise Payne. The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, popularly known as Quad, is an informal strategic forum between the US, Japan, Australia and India.

Issues such as connectivity and infrastructure development, security including counter-terrorism, cyber and maritime security, and the stability and prosperity in the region, are the points of discussion for the Ministers at the Tokyo meet.

Jaishankar noted that the Indo-Pacific concept has gained increasingly wider acceptance and the Indo-Pacific Ocean’s Initiative that was tabled at the East Asia Summit last year was a development with considerable promise in that context. “Our objective remains advancing the security and the economic interests of all countries having legitimate and vital interests in the region,” he said

The fact that the Ministers were meeting in person, despite the global pandemic, was a testimony to the importance that these consultations have gained, particularly in recent times, Jaishankar observed.

“The events of this year have clearly demonstrated how imperative it is for like minded countries to coordinate responses to the various challenges that the pandemic has brought to the fore. As we collectively navigate these uncharted waters, we seek to emerge from the pandemic more resilient than ever before,” the Minister said.

The Minister’s remarks are significant as the Quad is also seen by some as a grouping to counter China’s rising influence in the world.

As vibrant and pluralistic democracies with shared values, the Quad nations have collectively affirmed the importance of maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, the Minister said.

“We remain committed to upholding the rules-based international order, underpinned by the rule of law, transparency, freedom of navigation in the international seas, respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty and peaceful resolution of disputes,” he added.

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