Theleaders of the Quad agreed on Friday to cooperate in providing vaccines to theIndo-Pacific region by harnessing their scientific, manufacturing and financialcapabilities, charting a new course of close cooperation.
Markingthe new, enhanced phase of cooperation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said atthe start of the quadrilateral virtual summit involving the US, India, Japanand Australia that "Quad has come of age".
Ajoint statement issued after the virtual summit said, "Building on theprogress our countries have achieved on health security, we will join forces toexpand safe, affordable and effective vaccine production and equitable access,to speed economic recovery and benefit global health."
"Wewill combine our nations' medical, scientific, financing, manufacturing anddelivery and development capabilities and establish a vaccine expert workinggroup to implement our path-breaking commitment to safe and effective vaccinedistribution," said the statement issued after the meeting also involvingPrime Ministers Scott Morrison of Australia and Yoshihide Suga of Japan, and USPresident Joe Biden.
USVice President Kamala Harris was also present at the meeting.