New Delhi: The former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe played a ‘formative role’ in the founding of the partnership in the alliance including Japan, and he worked tirelessly to advance a shared vision for a free and open strategically-important Indo-Pacific region, said QUAD leaders in the view of tribute to Shinzo Abe.
The leaders credited Abe as being a “transformative leader” for Japan who worked for strengthening Japanese relations with each one of the three countries.
Quad members India, Australia, and the US have expressed shock at the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Nara city of Japan. Abe, 67, was shot from behind in Nara in western Japan while giving a campaign speech.
Abe was airlifted to a hospital but was reported to be not breathing, and his heart had stopped. Abe was pronounced dead later at the hospital. Abe was Japan’s longest-serving leader before stepping down in 2020 for health reasons.
Abe was one of the architects of the Quad, the US, India, Japan, and Australia alliance aimed at countering China’s growing influence and military might.
In the statement, the Quad leaders vowed to honour Abe’s memory by “redoubling our work towards a peaceful and prosperous region” while stating that their hearts are with the people of Japan and with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in their moment of grief.
The UN Secretary-General expressed his deep condolences to Abe’s family and the people and Government of Japan.
(Vinayak)