Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and other dignitaries at the opening of the 16th Ministerial Meeting of the Member States of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), in Doha yesterday.
Doha: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said yesterday that Asian countries need to deepen cooperation to meet future challenges.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs opened the 16th Ministerial Meeting of the Member States of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), being held at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, under the chairmanship of Qatar.
The high-profile meeting is witnessing gathering of foreign ministers and other senior leaders from countries from Asian continent which hosts more than half the world’s population and produces about 40 percent of the world’s industrial production.
The meeting yesterday adopted Doha Declaration which welcomed the proposal submitted by Qatar to host the Third Summit of Asia Cooperation Dialogue in 2020, and its initiatives to teach the Arabic language to non-Arabic speakers in the ACD Member States. The membership of ACD increased with Palestine became the newest member.
Addressing the meeting, the Deputy PM said the meeting is taking place when the world is undergoing complex changes and developments at all political, economic and financial spheres, stressing the need to deepen cooperation among Asian countries to meet the challenges of the future.
He expressed full confidence that the integration of the course of the previous ministerial meetings will provide an opportunity to deepen and strengthen existing cooperation in all fields and help to open up new horizons of cooperation, expressing Qatar’s pride in hosting this important meeting and affirming its determination to do its best for its success through developing existing cooperation, and exploring new opportunities for cooperation as a cornerstone for the stability and security of the Asian continent to realise the hopes and aspirations of its peoples to realise the desired development.
“We in the State of Qatar appreciate our relationship with the Asian countries with which we have long-standing historical relations that transcend the material interests and immediate benefits,” he said, adding Qatar supports the main objectives of the ACD initiative, which include strengthening inter-relations among Member States, coordinating political positions, strengthening cooperation in various fields and achieving common interests.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mohammad Javad Zarif; the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Mevlut Cavusoglu; and ACD Secretary-General Bundit Limschoon also addressed the first session.
H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani reiterated Qatar’s support for Member States’ proposals related to the 20 fields of cooperation, particularly in the areas of energy, security, poverty alleviation, agriculture, transport, biotechnology, environment, tourism and e-education, adding that it encourages all efforts that promote joint action under the umbrella of the ACD Secretariat General.
The Deputy Prime Minister said although the countries of the continent have taken concrete steps to achieve some ambitions, there is still other aspirations that require hard work to achieve them. “We have every opportunity to achieve the aspirations of our peoples because Asia possesses natural and human resources and occupies an outstanding geographical location.”
He stressed Qatar’s long-standing and growing policy of cooperation with all Asian countries in various fields to promote and deepen trade and economic partnerships and enhance the economic competitiveness of Asian countries in world markets, especially as the Asian continent has all the potential to better develop human resources and economic resources, which are elements of the success of the process of economic integration.
The Deputy Prime Minister pointed out that the economies of the Asian countries in recent years have witnessed increasing growth rates, which provide the opportunity for further cooperation among the countries of the continent, pointing out that any situation of tension or instability in any geographical region of this continent will negatively affect all other regions, leading to slower growth rates and development programs.
The Deputy Prime Minister addressed the phenomenon of terrorism and extremism, stressing that it has become a source of danger to all, adding that the State of Qatar condemns terrorism, extremism and violence in all their forms, regardless of their motives, and is involved in all regional and international efforts to combat terrorism.
He also reiterated that there is no religion that calls for terrorism, and that all religions call for noble values, tolerance, cooperation and constructive dialogue for the benefit of human society.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif called for the establishment of a comprehensive Secretariat for all Member States by establishing a working group for reform and restructuring.
Zarif, who addressed the opening of the 16th ACD Ministerial Meeting as his country was the former chair of the ACD, said that the lack of dialogue is behind many problems, and that the ACD was established in order to help in avoiding such problems, adding multilateral and comprehensive dialogue is the only way out of any conflicts or problems.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Mevlut Cavusoglu, said that the Asian continent has enormous potential and resources, while highlighting some of the potentials enjoyed by the continent.
The minister, who addressed the opening of the 16th ACD Ministerial Meeting as his country will be the next chair of the ACD, added that Asian continent has achieved many economic achievements as many of countries in Asia have managed to bring their people out of the lowest level of income and achieve high levels.
ACD Secretary-General Bundit Limschoon called on Member States to work together to face the crises and challenges facing the region. He said that this forum represents opportunities for dialogue among Asian countries and will enhance their capacity to cope with these crises. He also said that the ACD countries are among the most important countries benefiting from the freedom of the economy and globalisation, and therefore obstacles that affect economy, the existence of conflicts or economic wars in the world would harm them.
