Ahead of PM Narendra Modi's Visit, Quadrilateral Initiative Begins In Manila

New Delhi:  In the backdrop of China's growing assertiveness, India, the US, Japan and Australia have got together to revive an alliance called the Quadrilateral, and talks were held today in Manila on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit. The grouping is expected to boost free trade and defence cooperation across part of South China Sea and Indian Ocean.

In a statement today, the foreign ministry said officials of all four countries met "for consultations on the issues of common interest in the Indo-Pacific region". The officials agreed that a free, open, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific region serves the long-term interests of all countries in the region and of the world at large. 

They also "exchanged views on addressing the common challenges of terrorism and proliferation linkages impacting the region as well as on enhancing connectivity," the ministry statement read.
 The meeting was chaired by Japan, which had proposed the first Quadrilateral in 2007, but the idea fell through. Today's meeting comes a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with US President Donald Trump in Manila. The Prime Minister is also expected to hold talks with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

The meeting is significant, given China's stance in the region.

Last week, China had reacted to reports of the Quadrilateral meeting, saying it hoped it "would not target or damage" a "third party's interest".

"We hope it would be beneficial for improving the mutual trust among countries and regions, and at the same time, safeguard and promote peace, tranquility and prosperity within the area, without targeting or damaging a third party's interests," the Chinese foreign ministry had said.