Strengthening of Quad shows that Indo-Pacific is the focus: Ambassador TS Sandhu

New Delhi, Oct 21 (UNI) Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described the Quad as a force for global good and the strengthening of the Quad shows that the Indo-Pacific is the priority.
In a talk at the Public Affairs Forum of India’s (PAFI) 8th National Forum 2021, Sandhu said Prime Minister Modi in his address at the first in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit in September described the Quadrilateral Dialogue between India, the US, Australia and Japan, “as a force for global good”.
“Today the group is focused on delivering tangibles”, with three practical areas of cooperation, in Covid vaccines, climate change and critical technology.
He said the four countries are using each other’s complementary strengths.
Giving the example of the Quad initiative for Covid-19 vaccines, Sandhu said the US is providing the technology through Johnson and Johnson, while Japan is providing the financing and Indian pharma major Biological E Ltd is to produce the one billion doses of vaccine in India, and Australia would provide the “lift power” to distribute the vaccines.
Sandhu said the Quad is also venturing into 5G, semi conductors, advanced bio tech, and new areas like cyber, space and also education.
He mentioned the Quad fellowship, which was announced at the leaders’ summit, according to which 100 students — 25 from each Quad country — would get fellowships to pursue either a master’s or doctoral degree at a leading STEM graduate university in the United States.
“Essentially the Quad leaders’ meeting resulted in practical people-oriented as well as for the global good policies.”
“Strengthening of the Quad shows that the Indo-Pacific is the priority. The Quad has given a clear signal that the Indo-Pacific is the focus,” he added.
On Indo-US trade, he said a lot needs to be covered, and the Prime Minister spoke with President Biden on trade as a key aspect of the ties.
On trade, PM Modi in his talk with President Biden had said that the trade between the two nations is complementary to each other. “They have tasked their trade ministers with early discussions on energizing the trade relationship, and resolve the outstanding issues,” said Sandhu, adding that the economic agenda is a key pillar of the bilateral relationship.
“I am confident that both the economic and trade pillar of relations will add to the strategic depth of the partnership.”
He also said the four million Indian diaspora is a pillar of strength in the relations and are a strong advocate of the India-US partnership.
He said the Indian diaspora played a strong role to help India during the second wave of Covid that hit the country earlier this year.