Quad meet explores collaboration in supply chains, critical tech & counter-terror

Quad senior officials on Thursday met to explore possibilities of collaboration in resilient supply chains, emerging and critical technologies, maritime security, cyber security, counter-terrorism, infrastructure and connectivity, higher education, climate change and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Senior Officials from the Ministry of External Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade of Australia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and US State Department met by video conference.

The Quad Foreign Ministers meeting in February was followed by the historic first Leaders’ Summit held in March 2021 which adopted a positive vision and pledged to strengthen cooperation on contemporary challenges. The Quad leaders plan to meet for their in-person summit later this year.


The consultations provided an opportunity to exchange views on the wide-ranging impact of COVID-19 in the Indo-Pacific region, and the importance of collaborative efforts to contain the pandemic, ensure health security and a quick economic recovery. In this context they reviewed the progress of the Quad Vaccine initiative which was announced by the Leaders, with the objective of enhancing vaccine production and equitable access, according to MEA statement.

Recalling their shared values and principles, the Officials reaffirmed commitment towards a free, open, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific region based on respect for international law. They reiterated their firm support for ASEAN centrality, ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and ASEAN-led mechanisms in the regional architecture.

The next in person Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of Quad will also be held later this year.

“The senior officials discussed the importance of peace and security in the Taiwan Strait, the ongoing crisis in Burma, and reaffirmed the Quad’s strong support for ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific,” according to the US state department.