U.S. President Joe Biden will host a first in-person summit of leaders of the “Quad” countries – Australia, India, Japan and the United States – next week, the White House said on Monday.

The summit of the four leaders will be held at the White House on Sept. 24, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement. The prime ministers of Australia, India and Japan – Mr. Scott Morrison, Mr. Narendra Modi and<r.  Yoshihide Suga – are expected in the United States next week to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

A virtual meeting of leaders of the Quad countries, which have been seeking to enhance cooperation in the face of Communist China’s growing power and assertiveness, was held in March. In that meeting, the leaders pledged to work closely on Wuhan virus vaccines and climate and to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific in the face of challenges from Beijing.

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, Ms. Psaki said in the statement.

Mr. Biden’s Indo-Pacific coordinator, Mr. Kurt Campbell, said in July the long-planned in-person meeting should bring decisive commitments on vaccine diplomacy and infrastructure.

However it is understood that the security issues will be also discussed since Japan and India signaled an increased Communist China's submarine activity in their waters in the recent days. Australia has also reported a presence of the Chinese surveillance ship opposite of Sydney last week.


The Quad To Boost All-Asia Infrastructure Plan

Mr. Biden, who is pushing big infrastructure spending at home, said in March he had suggested to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson that democratic countries should have an infrastructure plan to rival Communist China’s massive Belt and Road Initiative, which involves projects from East Asia to Europe.

Ms. Psaki said the Quad Leaders would be focused on deepening our ties and advancing practical cooperation on areas such as combating the virus, addressing the climate crisis, partnering on emerging technologies and cyberspace, and promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific.

A senior U.S. official said infrastructure would be among a range of topics discussed at the in-person summit.