DUSHANBE, October 12, 2011, Asia-Plus — Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi has delivered a statement at the 10th Ministerial Meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), the Tajik MFA information department reports.
In his statement, Zarifi, in particular, touched upon issues related to impact of the financial crisis on the world economy, ways to come out of the crisis, opportunities of investment and use of natural resources for the benefit of Asian nations. He also made an emphasis on the information technologies, transportation and environment protection issues.
At the end of his statement, Tajik minister invited the ACD member nations to attend the 11th ACD Ministerial Meeting that is scheduled to take place in Dushanbe in 2012, the source said.
The 10th ACD Ministerial Meeting took place in Kuwait on October 10-11 and Tajik foreign minister held a number of bilateral meetings in Kuwait.
Yesterday, he held talks with his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi. The two reportedly discussed prospects of further expansion of energy and transportation cooperation between Tajikistan and Iran.
On the same day, Zarifi met with the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Jullapong Nonsrichai. Tajikistan minister noted that Tajikistan was ready to host the next ACD ministerial meeting in 2012. He expressed hope for support of Thailand as the ACD coordinator in that issue, the source noted. In this context, the sides considered the issues of preparation and holding of the next ACD ministerial meeting in Tajikistan and preparation of a draft declaration.
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 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; and 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.
The idea of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue was raised at the First International Conference of Asian Political Parties (held in Manila on September 17–20, 2000) by Surakiart Sathirathai, then deputy leader of the now defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, on behalf of his party leader, Thaksin Shinawatra, then Prime Minister of Thailand. It was suggested that Asia as a continent should have its own forum to discuss Asia-wide cooperation. Afterwards, the idea of the ACD was formally put forward during the 34th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in Hanoi (July 23–24, 2001) and at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat in Phuket (February 20–21, 2002).
The ACD was founded by 18 members and currently comprises the 31 states (including all current members of ASEAN and the GCC). Tajikistan joined ACD on June 5, 2006.
