Biden to host Quad leaders in Washington for first summit

WASHINGTON

US President Joe Biden will host his counterparts from three key Indo-Pacific nations later this month for the first-ever in-person Quad Leaders Summit, the White House announced on Monday.

Biden will host Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga at the White House on Sept. 24, spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement.

"Hosting the leaders of the Quad demonstrates the Biden-Harris Administration’s priority of engaging in the Indo-Pacific, including through new multilateral configurations to meet the challenges of the 21st century," said Psaki.

The meeting will focus on joint efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, technological collaboration and "promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific," according to the White House.

Quad leaders met virtually in March due to the pandemic.

The Quad has become a focus for the US amid growing great-power competition with China as Beijing increasingly asserts its interests in the region, particularly its maritime claims in the East and South China Seas.