How will 'The Quad' influence Washington-Beijing rivalry? The Japanese prime minister also said the Quad meeting, which was convened to discuss the importance of US involvement in the Pacific, would now be held every year.

Quad leaders agreed to cooperate on vaccines, clean energy and space, Suga said after the meeting. 'We stand for the rule of law, freedom of navigation and overflight, peaceful resolution of disputes, democratic values, and territorial integrity of states,' the four leaders said in a joint statement.