Eye on China: Modi, Biden to meet in Japan at Quad next month

TIL Desk/World/Washington/ United States President Joe Biden will travel to South Korea and Japan next month and attend the Quad summit in Tokyo, during which he will also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the White House has said. Biden’s trip to South Korea and Japan has been scheduled from May 20 to 24.

“This trip will advance the Biden-Harris administration’s rock-solid commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in Washington, DC on Wednesday. Biden will also hold bilateral meetings with South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan.

“The leaders will discuss opportunities to deepen our vital security relationships, enhance economic ties and expand our close cooperation to deliver practical results. ”In Tokyo, President Biden will also meet the leaders of the Quad grouping of Australia, Japan, India and the United States. We look forward to having further details to share about this trip soon,” Psaki said.

In November 2017, the US, Australia, India and Japan gave shape to the long-pending proposal of setting up the Quad to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence, amidst China’s growing military presence in the strategic region.