DUSHANBE, May 7, 2013, Asia-Plus – Tajik Minister of Culture Mirzoshorukh Asrori is attending the 1st Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Culture Ministers Meeting that kicked off in Tehran today.
According to Iranian media sources, the event that enjoys the slogan of “Asia Is a Center of Human Civilization” has brought together representatives from 32 countries of the world.
The ACD meeting is aimed at reviewing cultural interactions among the member nations.
The two-day event is also to consider new proposals as well as draft of Tehran statement on May 8.
Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Seyed Mohammad Hosseini described the meeting as the most comprehensive gathering in Asia. Referring to the importance of ACD meeting, Hosseini said the permanent cultural secretariat of Asian countries will be set up in Iran in the near future.
The Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) is a body created in 2002 to promote Asian cooperation at a continental level and to help integrate separate regional cooperation organizations such as ASEAN, SAARC and the Gulf Cooperation Council. The ACD was founded by 18 members and currently comprises the 32 states (including all current members of ASEAN and the GCC).
The main objectives of the ACD are to: promote interdependence among Asian countries in all areas of cooperation by identifying Asia”s common strengths and opportunities which will help reduce poverty and improve the quality of life for Asian people whilst developing a knowledge-based society within Asia and enhancing community and people empowerment; expand the trade and financial market within Asia and increase the bargaining power of Asian countries in lieu of competition and, in turn, enhance Asia”s economic competitiveness in the global market; serve as the missing link in Asian cooperation by building upon Asia”s potentials and strengths through supplementing and complementing existing cooperative frameworks so as to become a viable partner for other regions; ultimately transform the Asian continent into an Asian Community, capable of interacting with the rest of the world on a more equal footing and contributing more positively towards mutual peace and prosperity.
