2022.05.24

Leaders’ Meeting on May 24, 2022

On May 24, the Quad Leaders’ Meeting was held. The main outcomes of the Meeting are as below.

  • Candid discussion on regional and global situations​

    Taking advantage of the in-person meeting, the four leaders candidly exchanged their views on regional and global situations, including the impact of the situation in Ukraine on the Indo-Pacific. They confirmed that no unilateral change of the status quo by force is tolerated in any region, especially in the Indo-Pacific region.

  • Further promotion of practical cooperation​

    The four leaders shared the view that the Quad is committed to bringing tangible benefits to the region. They concurred on the importance of furthering practical cooperation in various fields and making the region more resilient as countries in the Indo-Pacific region face pressing challenges such as COVID-19, climate change, and infrastructure.

  • Confirmation on continued close coordination ​

    The four leaders concurred to hold the next Leaders’ Meeting in Australia in 2023, and confirmed that they will continue to work closely together, including regular meetings by the Leaders and Foreign Ministers.

Photos

Japan-Australia-India-U.S. (Quad)

Japan-Australia-India-U.S. (Quad) share fundamental values and are committed to strengthening a free and open international order based on the rule of law. The four countries have been promoting practical cooperation in various fields, including vaccines, infrastructure, climate change, and critical and emerging technologies, to realize a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)." The four countries have also concurred on the importance of making positive contribution to the region.

Background of Japan-Australia-India-U.S. (Quad)

  • In the aftermath of the Earthquake off the Coast of Sumatra and Tsunami Disaster in the Indian Ocean, Japan, Australia, India and the U.S. formed a Core Group to lead the international community's support.

  • Quad officials held a meeting for the first time. Senior officials meetings and other meetings have been held on a regular basis since November 2017.

  • The first Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New York on the occasion of the UN General Assembly

  • The second Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Tokyo (Foreign ministers also held a telephone meeting
    in February 2021)

  • The first Leaders’ Video Conference

  • The first in-person Leaders’ Meeting

  • The fourth Foreign Ministers' Meeting

  • Leaders’ Video Conference

  • The second Leaders’ Meeting
    (on September 24, 2021, in Washington DC)
  • The fourth Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
    (on February 11, 2022, in Melbourne)

Quad Initiatives

The four countries have been promoting practical cooperation
in various areas, including quality infrastructure, maritime security,
counter-terrorism, cyber security, and humanitarian assistance and
disaster relief, with the aim of realizing
a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).”

Furthermore, the four leaders concurred to launch working groups on vaccines, critical and emerging technologies, and climate change at the Quad Leaders’ Video Conference in March 2021. While confirming the steady progress in these areas, the leaders agreed to launch working groups in the areas of quality infrastructure, space, and cyber security, as well as to strengthen cooperation in the areas of clean energy and people-to-people exchange at the summit meeting in September 2021.

The four countries concurred to hold the Leaders’ and Foreign Ministers' Meeting every year.

The four countries will continue to promote practical cooperation in a wide range of fields to realize a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)”.

Summary of the past Leaders’ Meetings

Leaders’ Video Conference in March 2021

On March 12, commencing at 10:30(Japan time) for approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, the Quad Leaders’ Video Conference was held.

The four leaders welcomed the first ever Quad Leaders’ Conference. They concurred to launch working groups on vaccine, critical and emerging technologies, and climate change.A Joint Statement and a Fact Sheet were released after the meeting.

Leaders’ Meeting in September 2021

On September 24, commencing at 2:00 p.m.(local time) for approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes, the Quad Leaders’ Meeting was held in person in Washington, D.C..

The four leaders confirmed the steady progress at the working groups on vaccine, climate change, and critical and emerging technologies, which were launched at the Leaders’ Video Conference in March, and they also concurred to launch working groups on infrastructure, cyber security, and space, and to strengthen cooperation in areas of clean energy and people-to people exchange.
They strongly emphasized their willingness to contribute to the positive development of the region through practical cooperation. A Joint Statement and a Fact Sheet were released after the meeting.

Leaders’ Video Conference in March 2022

The Leaders’ video conference was held from 11:00 p.m.(Japan time) on March 3 for approximately 70 minutes.

The four leaders exchanged views on the increasingly tense situation in Ukraine and concurred to work closely together to respond to the situation. They also concurred to hold the next Quad Leaders’ Meeting in Tokyo in the coming months. A Joint Call Readout was released after the meeting.