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Sept. 21 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden on Saturday hosted a fourth Quad Leaders Summit with Japanese, Australian and Indian leaders, noting issues in the Indo-Pacific region: "serious concern" over maritime violations by China and North Korea's destabilizing ballistic missile launches. The main Quad took place at Archmere Academy, the private Catholic school Biden attended in Claymont, Del. The countries represent 2 billion people.
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"We celebrate the fact that over just four years, Quad countries have built a vital and enduring regional grouping that will buttress the Indo-Pacific for decades to come," the White House said in 5,679-word joint declaration from the leaders.
Biden had separate closed meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India at his home in Wilmington on Saturday after meeting Friday with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Before the main meeting, he described how the alliance strengthened over the course of his presidency.
"We're democracies who know how to get things done," he said during a public session. "That's why, within the first days of my presidency, I reached out to each of you, each of your nations, to propose and elevate the Quad, make it even more consequential.
"Four years later, our four countries ... are more strategically aligned than ever before."
In a post on X, he said: "These leaders aren't just essential to ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. They're friends of mine and friends of our nation."
The declaration said: "As Leaders, we are steadfast in our conviction that international law, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the maintenance of peace, safety, security and stability in the maritime domain, underpin the sustainable development, and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific."
They focused on maritime issues, writing: "We express serious concern over recent dangerous and aggressive actions in the maritime domain. We seek a region where no country dominates and no country is dominated-one where all countries are free from coercion, and can exercise their agency to determine their futures."
The alliance is a way to counterbalance China's rising military influence.
"We are seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas," the declaration said. "We continue to express our serious concern about the militarization of disputed features, and coercive and intimidating maneuvers in the South China Sea. We condemn the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels, including increasing use of dangerous maneuvers."
They also noted North Korea's missile launches.
"We condemn North Korea's destabilizing ballistic missile launches and its continued pursuit of nuclear weapons in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions. These launches pose a grave threat to international peace and stability. We urge North Korea to abide by all its obligations under the UNSCRs, refrain from further provocations and engage in substantive dialogue. We reaffirm our commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula consistent with relevant UNSCRs and call on all countries to fully implement these UNSCRs."
Albanese and Biden discussed efforts that include Britain to "promote a free and open Indo-Pacific that is secure and stable," according to White House readout of the encounter.
The main session discussed efforts to address climate change, clean energy, critical minerals supply chains, cyber, outer space, health security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, quality infrastructure, emerging technologies. Also discussed was maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait that separates Taiwan and China and the South China Sea.
They announced the U.S. Coast Guard, Japan Coast Guard, Australian Border Force and Indian Coast Guard plan to launch the first Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission in 2025, "to improve interoperability and advance maritime safety, and continuing with further missions in future years across the Indo-Pacific."
They also unveiled the Quad Cancer Moonshot, "a groundbreaking partnership to save lives in the Indo-Pacific region." Initially it will focus on combatting cervical cancer. In the United States, Biden unveiled the Cancer Moonshot initiative aimed at reducing deaths from the disease. The president's son, Beau Biden, died in 2015 from brain cancer.
The next Quad foreign ministers meeting will be hosted by the United States in 2025, and the next Quad leaders' Summit hosted by India also next year.
