This partnership will ensure the accessibility of safe COVID-19 vaccines to countries in the Asia Pacific Region

Under a landmark COVID partnership launched at the first summit of Quad leaders held on Friday, India will expand its vaccine production capacity with the support of the US, Japan, and Australia.

This will ensure accessibility of safe COVID-19 vaccines to countries in the Asia Pacific Region.

"United in our fight against COVID-19, we launched a landmark Quad partnership to ensure accessibility of safe COVID-19 vaccines. India’s formidable vaccine production capacity will be expanded with support from Japan, US & Australia to assist countries in the Indo-Pacific region," Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1370416533441187841

Earlier, during his opening remarks at the virtual summit, Prime Minister Modi said the Quad nations of India, the United States, Australia, and Japan were united by their democratic values, and their commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

"We will work together, closer than ever before, for advancing shared values and promoting a secure, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific," the Indian Prime Minister said.

US President Joe Biden was the first to address the summit, followed by Prime Minister Modi, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide.

Thanking President Biden for the initiative in his opening remarks at the summit, the Indian Prime Minister said, "It is good to be among friends!"

"Our agenda today - covering areas like vaccines, climate change and emerging technologies - makes the Quad a force for global good," Prime Minister Modi pointed out.

He said he saw this positive vision as "an extension of India's ancient philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which regards the world as one family".

"Today’s summit meeting shows that Quad has come of age. It will now remain an important pillar of stability in the region," he emphasized.

Announcing the summit, the Ministry of External Affairs had on Tuesday said that the Quad leaders would be discussing regional and global issues of shared interest.

They would also exchange views on practical areas of cooperation towards maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, the MEA said.

It added that the summit would provide an opportunity to exchange views on contemporary challenges such as resilient supply chains, emerging and critical technologies, maritime security, and climate change.