Remarks by EAM, Dr. S. Jaishankar at the Quad FMM 2024 Press Conference

Let me join my Quad colleagues to thank Minister Kamikawa Yoko for hosting us today, and also in sharing our readout on this meeting and the progress of the Quad. Allow me to make five points.

First, as the person, not just a Foreign Minister, longest associated with the Quad, the real satisfaction I have is to see how deeply and systemically it has now got embedded in our foreign policies. Certainly, meetings such as the one we have just concluded are hugely helpful in giving direction. But the fact is that different agencies of our Government and stakeholders beyond them - and this keeps expanding - now regularly interact with each other, to take it forward. And our leaders have personally led the Quad's growth.

Second, do appreciate what an expansive agenda we have built up in the last few years. Think about it: we are working from trusted telecom technology and under sea cable connectivity, you just heard Minister Wong talk about it, to humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR), Minister Kamikawa spoke about that, critical and emerging technologies, cyber and health security, climate action, infrastructure, capacity building and training, STEM education, maritime domain awareness and counter terrorism. And this by the way is the abbreviated list! There are 16 working groups and we have just today agreed on more things to do. All of us are looking at, how to advance Quad, how to resource it better, how to coordinate more closely; and I think we have made some important steps today in that direction.

Third, this is not a talk shop but a platform that generates practical outcomes. For example, our HADR conversations are reflected in understandings and SOPs between our Navies. The Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness initiative that came out of Quad today links information fusion centres. The Open-RAN network, that we have spoken about so much, is being deployed in Palau. A space-based climate warning system will be launched soon in Mauritius. Off-grid solar projects are actually happening in Indo-Pacific islands. During Covid, we cooperated to deliver vaccines to countries in this region. And the first cohort of Quad STEM fellowships is passing out and the second one will also cover the ASEAN.

Fourth, while I have given specific examples, it is important that we all connect the dots. The overall messaging is that our four countries - all democratic polities, pluralistic societies and market economies - are working together for a free and open Indo-Pacific, for a rules-based order and for global good. That by itself is a powerful stabilizing factor in an uncertain and volatile world.

And fifth, there is a strong interactive dynamic between the Quad and our respective bilateral or even trilateral relationships. Progress on one front strengthens the other and thereby, enhances the value of the Quad. We have also been able to engage together with some other countries in this region in furtherance of a shared agenda.

So Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the media, these are challenging times. Whether it is stability and security or progress and prosperity, good things don't happen by themselves. They need trusted partners, they need international cooperation. The Quad is a great contemporary example of both.

As in the past, I am very pleased with what we have discussed and what we have achieved today.

Thank you.