New Delhi, Sep 22: On his first day of the US trip, Prime Minister Modi participated in the 6th Quad Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington, Delaware, alongside U.S. President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
In his address, Prime Minister Modi thanked President Biden for hosting the summit and for his dedication to strengthening the Quad partnership.
“Our meeting is taking place at a time when the world is surrounded by tensions and conflicts. In such a situation, the Quad moving together based on shared democratic values is very important for the entire humanity. We are not against anyone. We all support a rules-based international order, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and peaceful resolution of all issues,” Prime Minister Modi said.
The leaders announced several initiatives aimed at addressing the development needs of the Indo-Pacific region and the global community, including:
Quad Cancer Moonshot: A partnership to combat cervical cancer in the Indo-Pacific region. “In Cancer Care, collaboration is essential for cure. An integrated approach of prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment is necessary to reduce the burden of cancer,” said Prime Minister Modi.
Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI): A program to enhance maritime capabilities in the region.
Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission: The first-ever observer mission aimed at improving maritime safety and interoperability.
Quad Ports of the Future Partnership: A collective effort to support sustainable and resilient port infrastructure development across the Indo-Pacific.
Semiconductor Supply Chains Contingency Network: A memorandum to strengthen resilience in semiconductor supply chains.
Energy Efficiency Initiative: Collective efforts to boost energy efficiency, including the deployment of high-efficiency affordable cooling systems in the Indo-Pacific region.
Space-based Monitoring for Mauritius: India’s establishment of a web portal to support space-based monitoring of extreme weather events and climate impact in Mauritius.
Quad STEM Fellowship: A new sub-category announced by India for students from the Indo-Pacific region to pursue a four-year engineering program at a Government of India-funded technical institute.
Prime Minister Modi reiterated that the Quad remains a “force for global good” and emphasised, “When the Quad acts, it is not just for nations – it is for the people. This is the true essence of our human-centric approach.” He also announced that India will host the next Quad Leaders’ Summit in 2025.
Bilateral Meeting with President Biden
On the sidelines of the Quad Summit, Prime Minister Modi held a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden at the President’s home in Wilmington, Delaware. President Biden extended a special gesture by hosting the meeting at his residence.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi expressed his appreciation for President Biden’s contributions to strengthening the India-U.S. partnership. “I thank President Biden for hosting me at his residence in Greenville, Delaware. Our talks were extremely fruitful. We had the opportunity to discuss regional and global issues during the meeting,” he said in a message on X.
The two leaders discussed ways to further enhance bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on global and regional issues, including the Indo-Pacific. They expressed confidence in the strength and resilience of the relationship and its significance for both countries.
Quad Cancer Moonshot Initiative
Prime Minister Modi also participated in the Quad Cancer Moonshot event, emphasising the need for joint efforts in cancer care. “I heartily congratulate President Biden for organising this important event. It reflects our shared determination for affordable, accessible, and quality healthcare. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we took the ‘Quad Vaccine Initiative’ for the Indo-Pacific. And, I am glad that in Quad, we have decided to jointly face challenges like cervical cancer,” he said.
He highlighted India’s efforts in cancer care, including running a cost-effective cervical cancer screening program and developing its own vaccine. “India is running the world’s largest health insurance scheme. Special centers have also been created to make medicines available to everyone at affordable cost. India has also developed its own vaccine for cervical cancer,” he added.
Prime Minister Modi announced India’s contribution of $7.5 million for sampling kits, detection kits, and vaccines under the Quad Cancer Moonshot Initiative. He also committed to providing assistance in radiotherapy treatment and capacity building in the Indo-Pacific region. “These 40 million vaccine doses will bring rays of hope in the lives of millions. As you can see, when the Quad acts, it is not just for nations – it is for the people,” he stated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Philadelphia late Saturday evening, (IST) kicking off his high-level visit to the United States. The visit includes key meetings in both bilateral and Quad formats.
The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, confirmed the Prime Minister’s itinerary, saying, “PM @narendramodi arrives in the historic city of Philadelphia. An action-packed day with engagements in bilateral and Quad formats in Wilmington, Delaware lies ahead.”
Upon his arrival, Prime Minister Modi shared his thoughts on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. “Landed in Philadelphia. Today’s programme will be focused on the Quad Summit and the bilateral meeting with @POTUS @JoeBiden. I am sure the discussions throughout the day will contribute to making our planet better and addressing key global challenges,” he posted.
