WASHINGTON 

US President Joe Biden hosted the leaders of Australia, India and Japan for a Quad alliance gathering on Saturday.

"Welcome to the border of Wilmington, Delaware. I’m really pleased that you were able to be in my home, and, and see where I grew up," Biden said in remarks at the opening of the gathering.

The US president highlighted democracy during his remarks, stressing that the Quad is "here to stay."

"We’re democracies. Democracies, who know how to get things done. While challenges will come, the world will change, because the Quad is here to stay, I believe. Here to stay," said Biden.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, said earlier that China is not the focus of the Quad, but later Biden told Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida that "China continues to behave aggressively, testing us all across the region."

"And it’s true in the South China Sea, the East China Sea, South China, South Asia and the Taiwan Straits," he was caught saying on a hot mic, outside the meeting.

"We believe (Chinese President) Xi Jinping is looking to focus on domestic economic challenges and minimize the turbulence in China diplomatic relationships. And he’s also looking to buy himself some diplomatic space, in my view, to aggressively pursue China’s interest," he added.

White House issued a lengthy joint statement with Quad members following the meeting that said that the nations "have built a vital and enduring regional grouping that will buttress the Indo-Pacific for decades to come."

"As four leading maritime democracies in the Indo-Pacific, we unequivocally stand for the maintenance of peace and stability across this dynamic region, as an indispensable element of global security and prosperity," it said.

"We strongly oppose any destabilizing or unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion. We condemn recent illicit missile launches in the region that violate UN Security Council resolutions. We express serious concern over recent dangerous and aggressive actions in the maritime domain," according to the statement.

The leaders also pledged to partner in health security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), maritime security, quality onfrastructure, critical and emerging technologies, climate and clean energy, cyber domain, space and regional and global issues.

Global issue

The leaders said they would recommit to working in partnership with Pacific island countries to achieve shared aspirations and address shared challenges and they remain committed to strengthening cooperation in the Indian Ocean region.

For Russia's war against Ukraine, the leaders expressed their "deepest concern over the war raging in Ukraine including the terrible and tragic humanitarian consequences," said the statement.

It said they condemned North Korea’s ballistic missile launches and its continued pursuit of nuclear weapons in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.

Regarding the Middle East, they said they share great interest in achieving peace and stability in the region, according to the statement.

"The large-scale loss of civilian lives and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is unacceptable. We affirm the imperative of securing the release of all hostages held by Hamas, and emphasize that the deal to release hostages would bring an immediate and prolonged ceasefire in Gaza," it said.

The Quad leaders have met six times, including twice virtually, and Quad foreign ministers have met eight times in the last five years, according to the statement.

"Quad country representatives meet together on a regular basis, at all levels, including among ambassadors across the four countries’ extensive diplomatic networks, to consult one another, exchange ideas to advance shared priorities, and deliver benefits with and for partners across the Indo-Pacific region," said the statement.

"Each of our governments has committed to working through our respective budgetary processes to secure robust funding for Quad priorities in the Indo-Pacific region to ensure an enduring impact," it added.

The next Quad foreign ministers’ meeting will be hosted by the US in 2025, and the next Quad leaders’ summit by India in 2025.