Biden invites Quad leaders to White House for summit next week
US President Joe Biden will host a first in-person summit of leaders of the "Quad" countries - Australia_ India_ Japan and the United States - which have sought to boost co-operation to push back against China's growing assertiveness.
The summit will be held at the White House in Washington on September 24_ Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement.
The US visits of the prime ministers of Australia_ India and Japan - Scott Morrison_ Narendra Modi and Yoshihide Suga - will coincide with the United Nations General Assembly in New York_ which Biden will address on Sept. 21.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki announced on Monday. The Biden-Harris administration has made elevating the Quad a priority_ as seen through the first-ever Quad leaders-level engagement in March_ which was virtual_ and now this summit_ which will be in-person_ Psaki said.
The Quad leaders will be focused on deepening our ties and advancing practical cooperation on areas such as combating Covid-19_ addressing the climate crisis_ partnering on emerging technologies and cyberspace_ and promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific_ she added.
"Hosting the leaders of the Quad demonstrates the Biden-Harris Administration s priority of engaging in the Indo-Pacific_ including through new multilateral configurations to meet the challenges of the 21st century_" Psaki said.
At an online meeting of the Quad leaders in March_ they pledged to work closely on Covid-19 vaccines and climate and ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific in the face of challenges from Beijing.
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