Quad expands cooperation to space at first in-person summit

Leaders agree to boost vaccine distribution, expand 5G and meet annually

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during the Quad summit in the East Room of the White House on Sept. 24. Seated clockwise from left, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. © AP

KEN MORIYASU, Nikkei Asia chief desk editor

September 25, 2021 04:14 JST

Updated on September 25, 2021 12:20 JST

WASHINGTON -- The leaders of the U.S., Japan, India and Australia -- known as the Quad -- met in person for the first time Friday, signaling the prominence of the informal grouping of like-minded nations as the key and critical format for discussing Indo-Pacific issues.

This time, they launched a new working group on space to join the three existing frameworks on "vaccines," "climate," and "critical and emerging technology" that they announced when they met online in March.