New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to join US President Joe Biden and his counterparts from Australia and Japan at a summit of the Quad leaders in Sydney on May 24 that is expected to focus on implications of the Ukraine conflict and the overall situation in the Indo-Pacific.
Before travelling to Australia, Modi is likely to visit the Japanese city of Hiroshima to attend the annual summit of the Group of Seven (G7) advanced economies that is scheduled to take place from May 19 to 21, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.
During his visit to India last month, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida invited Modi for the G7 summit.
In their summit, the Quad leaders are also expected to bolster overall cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, a region that has been witnessing growing Chinese military assertiveness.
The White House on Wednesday said President Biden will attend the G7 leaders’ summit in Hiroshima as well as the Quad summit in Sydney.
From Japan, Modi may travel to a Pacific island nation from where he will likely go to Australia for the Quad summit, it is learnt.
India is yet to make any official announcement on Modi’s proposed foreign visits next month.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s office on Wednesday formally made an announcement on hosting of the Quad summit.
The Australian prime minister said the Quad is committed to supporting an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is respectful of sovereignty and ensures security and growth for all.
In its statement, the White House said the Quad leaders will discuss how they can deepen their cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, high-quality infrastructure, global health, climate change, maritime domain awareness, and other issues that matter to the people of the Indo-Pacific.
“On May 24, President Biden will attend the third in-person Quad leaders’ summit in Sydney, Australia, with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, hosted by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia,” it said.
Modi is likely to hold a number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the G7 and the Quad summits.
It will be for the first time Australia is hosting the Quad summit. This will be the third in-person Quad leaders’ summit.
PTI

Press Trust of India