Only Quad can ensure freedom, stability in Indo-Pacific region: Jaishankar

In his opening statement at the Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting here, Jaishankar said Quad members have significant additional responsibilities

The Quad has additional responsibilities of upholding a rules-based order and collaboration under the grouping can ensure that the Indo-Pacific remains free and secure, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday amid China's increasing assertiveness in the region.

In his opening remarks at a foreign ministerial conclave of Quad, Jaishankar said a clear message should be sent that the Quad is "here to stay, here to do and here to go."

"As political democracies, pluralistic societies and market economies, there is the key question of upholding a rules-based order," Jaishankar said.

"It is only our collaboration that can ensure that the Indo-Pacific remains free, remains open, stable, secure and prosperous. The commitment to doing global good that we have all undertaken has a resonance far beyond this region," he said.

"It is therefore essential that our political understanding strengthens, our economic partnerships grow, our technology collaborations expand and our people-to-people comfort intensifies," the external affairs minister added.

Besides Jaishankar, the meeting was attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Australia's Penny Wong.

"Our meeting should send a clear message, that the Quad is here to stay, here to do and here to go," Jaishankar said.

In her comments, Australian foreign minister Wong, without directly naming China, highlighted the need to ensure that "sovereignty is respected and competition is managed responsibly".

She called for working collectively to build a region "where size or power do not determine a country's fate. Where no country dominates, and no country is dominated. Where we all share in our aspirations."

"And have choices available to realise those aspirations. Over the last two years I have seen the Quad's commitment to this vision of the Indo-Pacific," she said.

In his remarks, Jaishankar also talked about the need to work towards ensuring global economic growth and de-risking it.

"These are not easy times. A major challenge is to ensure global economic growth, while also de-risking it. Supply chains are a particular focus for resilience, just as we push for trusted and transparent digital partnerships," he said.

"The march of technology has also acquired extraordinary proportions, holding possibilities of the very manner in which we live, think and act. In a sense, we are in the midst of a re-globalisation," he said.

"At the same time, it is only our collective endeavours that can proof the international system against disruptions, man-made or natural," Jaishankar said.

The Quad foreign ministerial meeting is taking place amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Hamas-Israel hostilities.

It is expected that the Quad foreign ministers would discuss the consequences of the geo-political turmoil being witnessed in various parts of the globe.