India, Australia slam China for criticising QUAD; aver 'it is based on practical agenda'

In a scathing attack against China's remarks on QUAD summit, India and Australia echoed that meeting was "t against anything" and added that group's main aim is to build resilience and promote a region without threat of coercion or intimidation.

While addressing a joint press conference with Australian FM Marise Payne, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar said group's record and stance on its positive nda are fairly clear and criticizing it "doesn't make it less credible".

"Our record, actions and stance are fairly clear. Criticizing it repeatedly doesn't make us less credible," Jaishankar said during joint press on Saturday.

On or hand, Payne said that QUAD is about building confidence, resilience and "about promoting a region in which all countries are able to be and feel sovereign and secure without threat of coercion or intimidation. tably, comments from both ministers came a day after China said it believes that Quad group "cobbled toger" by US, Japan, India and Australia is a "tool for containing and besieging China".

While addressing a regular press conference, Chinese Foreign Minister spokesperson, Zhao Lijian said, "It aims to stoke confrontation and undermine international solidarity and cooperation."

Quad bolstered cooperation in areas including ecomy and security

Meanwhile, reacting to claims made by Chinese FM spokesperson, Payne said, "We have a really practical nda, which is evidenced by our support of access to vaccines, over 500 million vaccines delivered under Quad leaders commitments on vaccination."

It is worth mentioning comments from Chinese side came soon after QUAD ministers held a joint conference in Australia's Melbourne. During meeting, diplomats of US, Australia, India and Japan bolstered cooperation in areas including ecomy, security, coronavirus pandemic and free and open Indo-Pacific.

diplomats also reiterated that both countries shared concerns about issues of terrorism and extremism. "We have serious concerns about continuing cross border terrorism and it is our shared endeavour to deepen counter-terrorism cooperation including in multilateral fora," said Jaishankar.

With inputs from ANI

Im: AP