WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The leaders of the United States, Australia, Japan and India pledged on Friday to work closely on COVID-19 vaccine distribution, climate issues and security, according to a joint statement by the group after a virtual meeting.
“We strive for a region that is free, open, inclusive, healthy, anchored by democratic  values, and unconstrained by coercion,” read the statement from the so-called “Quad” countries, a grouping seen as formed to counter China’s growing influence in Asia and beyond.
(Reporting by David Brunnstrom and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Franklin Paul)
