The United States, Japan, India and Australia have agreed to promote a free, open, rules-based and inclusive Indo-Pacific region that fosters trust and confidence.

Participants at the East Asia Summit in Singapore (Photo: VNA)

The four reached the consensus at the third security dialogue within the framework of the Quad on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit in Singapore on 15 November. The event saw the participation of senior foreign ministry officials of the four countries to discuss regional and global issues of shared concern.

According to the Indian Foreign Ministry’s statement, the discussions focused on cooperation in areas such as connectivity, sustainable development, anti-terrorism, non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, maritime and cyber security with a view to promoting peace, stability and prosperity in an increasingly inter-connected Indo-Pacific region.

The participants reaffirmed the centrality of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as the cornerstone of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

This was the third meeting of the Quad after the first was held in the Philippines in November 2017 and the second in Singapore in June 2018.

(Source: VNA)