China’s aggressive posturing in the Indo-Pacific and the ongoing stand-offs at the border in Ladakh will come up in the Quad summit in Tokyo on May 24. Besides attending this high-profile event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also hold bilateral talks with US President Joe Biden and Japanese and Australian Prime Ministers. The summit takes place in the backdrop of the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
Giving details of the Prime Minister’s programme in Tokyo, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said here on Saturday “Indo-Pacific has challenges and opportunities. When Quad leaders speak, both challenges and opportunities will be talked about.” This was in response to queries about China’s stance and it building the second bridge across the Pangong Tso(lake)in Eastern Ladakh.
It will be the second Quad summit in person with Biden hosting the first meet in Washington last year. Modi is travelling to Tokyo to attend the Quad conclave at the invitation of his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida.
As regards bilateral meeting between India and Japanese prime ministers, Kwatra said the strategic and global relations between the two countries have seen great momentum. In Tokyo, two Prime Ministers will continue their discussion on deepening bilateral economic cooperation including trade and investment, clean energy, and cooperation in northeast.
On meeting with the Australian Prime Minister, he said elections are being held there on Saturday. The next Australian Prime Minister is likely to attend the Quad Summit. It is expected that Modi will meet the new Australian leader in Tokyo, the Foreign Secretary said.
In their interaction, the two leaders will review India-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership and exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest. The last bilateral meeting was held virtually in March this year, he said.
Modi will have a bilateral meeting with Biden on May 24. The India-US relationship is multi-faceted, has acquired momentum, depth and is diversified, Kwatra said. Modi will also address Indian community there and will meet Japanese business leaders.