Foreign secretary hints India may join US-Indo-Pacific plan | India News – Times of India
NEW DELHI: With PM Modi set to leave for Japan to attend the Quad summit, foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said the proposed US-Indo-Pacific economic framework plan for the region was still under discussion but hinted that India may join the initiative.
The economic dimension of the Quad cooperation was important for harnessing economic opportunities in the region, and this will be one of the focus areas for PM Modi during the visit, foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra added.
The government has also reiterated its position on wheat, saying the decision to regulate exports is also meant to protect vulnerable countries.
PM Modi will have bilateral meetings with US President Joe Biden and also his Japanese and likely Australian counterparts, Fumio Kishida and Anthony Albanese, respectively.
Albanese is expected to take over from Scott Morrison who was ousted by the Labour Party in the elections on Saturday. While the situation in Ukraine is again expected to be discussed in detail, Kwatra said foreign powers were appreciative of India’s position that sought cessation of hostilities and return to dialogue and diplomacy.
Asked specifically about how much of a factor China’s behaviour will be in the discussions, Kwatra said that whenever Quad leaders meet they look to address both challenges and opportunities in the Indo-Pacific.
“Bilateral relations are a separate issue, but right now whatever issues related to the Indo-Pacific that are on agenda will be discussed,” he said.
On being asked if Quad could play a more security-oriented role because of Chinese aggression, Kwatra said Quad should be seen in the proper context and also keeping in mind its core values of democracy, pluralism and market economy. He said Quad seeks to promote positive and constructive agenda that includes Covid response, climate action and cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, biotech, diversification of semiconductors supply chain and security of critical cyber infrastructure.
Modi will also hold a business roundtable with around 25-30 Japanese industry representatives and have a few one-on-one meetings with prominent Japanese business leaders.
On the bilateral with Biden, who had asked India to not accelerate its oil imports from Russia in a virtual meeting last month, Kwatra said the long-standing cooperation between the two countries in diverse areas ranging from trade, defence, security, climate and education was on an upward trajectory. “There is regular exchange of visits and dialogue not just on the bilateral agenda, but also on regional and global issues,” he said.
The economic dimension of the Quad cooperation was important for harnessing economic opportunities in the region, and this will be one of the focus areas for PM Modi during the visit, foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra added.
The government has also reiterated its position on wheat, saying the decision to regulate exports is also meant to protect vulnerable countries.
PM Modi will have bilateral meetings with US President Joe Biden and also his Japanese and likely Australian counterparts, Fumio Kishida and Anthony Albanese, respectively.
Albanese is expected to take over from Scott Morrison who was ousted by the Labour Party in the elections on Saturday. While the situation in Ukraine is again expected to be discussed in detail, Kwatra said foreign powers were appreciative of India’s position that sought cessation of hostilities and return to dialogue and diplomacy.
Asked specifically about how much of a factor China’s behaviour will be in the discussions, Kwatra said that whenever Quad leaders meet they look to address both challenges and opportunities in the Indo-Pacific.
“Bilateral relations are a separate issue, but right now whatever issues related to the Indo-Pacific that are on agenda will be discussed,” he said.
On being asked if Quad could play a more security-oriented role because of Chinese aggression, Kwatra said Quad should be seen in the proper context and also keeping in mind its core values of democracy, pluralism and market economy. He said Quad seeks to promote positive and constructive agenda that includes Covid response, climate action and cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, biotech, diversification of semiconductors supply chain and security of critical cyber infrastructure.
Modi will also hold a business roundtable with around 25-30 Japanese industry representatives and have a few one-on-one meetings with prominent Japanese business leaders.
On the bilateral with Biden, who had asked India to not accelerate its oil imports from Russia in a virtual meeting last month, Kwatra said the long-standing cooperation between the two countries in diverse areas ranging from trade, defence, security, climate and education was on an upward trajectory. “There is regular exchange of visits and dialogue not just on the bilateral agenda, but also on regional and global issues,” he said.
