Australian PM Anthony Albanese Meets Japanese PM Fumio Kishida in Delaware Ahead of Quad Summit
Greenville (Delaware) [US], September 22: Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, met with his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida, in Greenville, Delaware on Saturday. This meeting took place ahead of the Quad leaders’ summit.
Albanese emphasized the importance of working towards a stable, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific region. He posted on X, ‘Australia and Japan are good friends. Today Prime Minister @kishida230 and I continued our work towards a stable, prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific region.’
The Biden administration is concerned about China’s actions against the Philippines’ maritime activities in the South China Sea. A senior US official revealed a plan to enhance coordination among the coast guards of the United States, Japan, Australia, and India within the Quad framework. The leaders are expected to agree on strengthening cooperation in maritime security, considering China’s growing maritime assertiveness.
The plan includes a US Coast Guard vessel allowing personnel from Quad counterparts, including the Japan Coast Guard, on board for limited periods in the Indo-Pacific. This cooperation will continue on a rotational basis.
Quad is a diplomatic partnership between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States. US President Joe Biden is hosting the fourth in-person and sixth overall Quad Leaders’ Summit in Delaware. This summit is a ‘farewell’ for both Biden and Kishida before they step down from their offices.
The first Quad Leaders Summit was held virtually in 2021. The second (first in-person) was in Washington, DC, on September 24, 2021. The third was held virtually on March 3, 2022. The fourth (second in-person) was hosted by Japan on May 24, 2022. The fifth (third in-person) was in Hiroshima, Japan, on May 20, 2023.
The summit will focus on enhancing strategic convergence among the countries, advancing a shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. White House Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, stated that Biden will host foreign leaders in Wilmington for the first time, reflecting his deep personal relationships with each of the Quad leaders. She added that the summit will deliver concrete benefits for partners in the Indo-Pacific in key areas.
Doubts Revealed
Australian PM -: The Australian PM is the Prime Minister of Australia, who is the leader of the government in Australia. Right now, it’s Anthony Albanese.
Japanese PM -: The Japanese PM is the Prime Minister of Japan, who is the leader of the government in Japan. Right now, it’s Fumio Kishida.
Delaware -: Delaware is a small state in the United States of America. It’s where the meeting between the Australian and Japanese Prime Ministers took place.
Quad Summit -: The Quad Summit is a meeting of leaders from four countries: the USA, India, Japan, and Australia. They talk about important issues to help each other and make the world better.
Indo-Pacific -: The Indo-Pacific is a large region that includes the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Many countries, including India, are part of this region.
Biden administration -: The Biden administration refers to the current government of the United States, led by President Joe Biden.
Coast guards -: Coast guards are special teams that protect a country’s coasts and help people in trouble at sea. They also stop illegal activities like smuggling.
Strategic convergence -: Strategic convergence means different countries working together closely on important plans and strategies to achieve common goals.
Free Indo-Pacific -: A free Indo-Pacific means that the countries in this region can trade and move around freely without any country’s control or interference.
Farewell summit -: A farewell summit is the last big meeting for leaders before they leave their jobs. In this case, it’s the last summit for both President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida.
