Washington, Oct 17 (NationPress) A coalition of bipartisan US legislators has formally reached out to President Donald Trump, advocating for his attendance at the Quad Leaders' Summit in India and other significant gatherings in Asia.

Leading the initiative is Representative Gregory W. Meeks, the Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Among the co-signers are Chairwoman Young Kim and Ranking Member Ami Bera of the East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee, as well as Chairman Bill Huizenga and Ranking Member Sydney Kamlager-Dove of the South and Central Asia Subcommittee.

According to the letter, "The Indo-Pacific region is essential for America's security and prosperity, and it stands at the forefront of our strategic competition with China. As Beijing intensifies its influence in the area, your personal participation in three pivotal multilateral summits this autumn is crucial to showcasing US leadership and countering China's ambitions -- including the East Asia Summit (EAS) in Malaysia, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in South Korea, and the Quad Leaders' Summit in India," it stated.

The letter also emphasized that the Quad alliance is the "foundation" for promoting US interests.

Furthermore, it stated, "Our Quad partnership with Australia, Japan, and India serves as the cornerstone for advancing our mutual interests in the Indo-Pacific."

This initiative follows an amendment proposed by Democratic Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove in the Department of State Policy Provisions Act, urging Trump to "maintain his leadership in the Quad and personally attend the Quad Leaders' Summit" scheduled for later this year.

The amendment successfully passed by a voice vote and is now part of a bill that will soon be considered in the US House of Representatives.

In an interview with IANS earlier this month, Kamlager-Dove described the Quad Summit as "extremely significant" and underscored her amendment.

"Why must we urge a President to take part in a Quad Leadership Summit? This reflects our unity with partners across the Indo-Pacific," she remarked.

While Trump was slated to attend the Quad Summit in November in India, it is likely to be rescheduled for early next year.

The bipartisan letter indicated that US allies in the region are seeking America's guidance, and it is essential for the nation to demonstrate that it "remains devoted to a free and open Indo-Pacific."

"Your involvement in these summits would serve as a robust response to Chinese President Xi's diplomatic efforts, reassuring allies and reaffirming America's leadership in the region. We strongly encourage you to announce your decision to attend these summits at your earliest convenience," it concluded.

Just days prior, 19 lawmakers had written to Trump urging him to "reset and repair" the critical partnership between India and the US.

The Congress members expressed concern that the President's recent tariff increases, which raised duties on Indian goods to as high as 50 percent, have weakened relations with India and adversely affected both American consumers and manufacturers.

"We represent districts with substantial, vibrant Indian-American communities that have strong familial, cultural, and economic connections to India. Recent actions taken by your administration have strained relations with the world's largest democracy, resulting in negative impacts for both nations. We implore you to take immediate action to restore and strengthen this vital partnership," they emphasized.