Doha: The 16th Ministerial Meeting of Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) yesterday adopted the Doha Declaration that welcomed the proposal submitted by the State of 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.
“We highly welcome the generous offer of the State of Qatar to host the 3rd ACD Summit on 2020,” said the Doha Declaration titled ‘Partners in progress’. “We welcome the initiative of the State of Qatar in providing the opportunity to teach Arabic for non-Arabic native speakers within the ACD member states, and we invite other ACD Member States to start such initiatives, from the premise that learning language is a way to bridge cultural gaps in linguistic communications among all humans,” added the declaration.The Doha Declaration called for strengthening regional cooperation, including all programs and initiatives to facilitate and expand regional trade, transit, increase investment and promote infrastructure development.
The Declaration also praised Qatar’s hosting of the 16th Ministerial Meeting of Asia Cooperation Dialogue.
The meeting noted that communication and cooperation with other countries as well as international organizations will undoubtedly contribute to enhancing the status of the Asian countries and enable them to benefit from the global experience in various fields so that the ACD member countries can make the most of these experiences.
The Declaration said that the Asian region has achieved stability over the last few years, and Asia is on the way to becoming a major driving force for global economic growth and a key partner in achieving global partnership in development for adopting the policies of good-neighborliness, friendship, dialogue, cooperation and common development.
The ACD countries emphasized the important role of small and medium enterprises as the engine for generating growth and prosperity throughout Asia in a sustainable way, and welcomed Qatar’s initiative to host the ACD Business Forum to create a private sector business platform to promote small and medium enterprises across Asia.
The Declaration noted the importance of balance and its contribution to economic sustainability and overall development in promoting dialogue, mutual respect, understanding and harmony.
It stressed the importance of regional cooperation as a key mechanism for accelerating the achievement of the three pillars of sustainable development, which include social and economic development and environmental protection, as well as the stability of the Asian region with its vast and varied natural and human resources, rich and historical heritage and economic and social potential. The meeting referred to the six agreed common pillars of ACD cooperation areas among the member states, stressing the commitment of countries to translate the ACD vision into concrete actions through the six agreed pillars. The meeting welcomed the report submitted by all major drivers and other members on the planned activities and their expected results.
The meeting also called for strengthening regional cooperation, including all programs and initiatives aimed at facilitating and expanding regional trade, transit, increasing investment and promoting infrastructure development.
The participating countries underlined keenness on continuing dialogue to promote cooperation in Asia, in the light of the maintenance of peace, prosperity, solidarity, mutual respect and tolerance, and the support of dialogue among the Member States in order to reach understandings and achieve aspirations. The Declaration also emphasised the important and constructive role of the ACD for Asia to create synergies and encourage the Secretary-General to promote dialogue among other subregional organizations.
It stressed the commitment to the ACD and its original guidelines as a top-down forum, constantly evolving so that its leaders and ministers could meet informally to share ideas, insights and experiences on cooperation among the Asian countries, in the light of mutual respect among members.
The participants also expressed their commitment to the rules and regulations of the World Trade Organization, which is the engine of economic growth aimed at providing employment and reducing poverty in the developing world.
The Declaration reaffirmed the need to strengthen unity, expand cultural exchanges and deepen practical cooperation to promote sustainable development and prosperity and contribute further to peace, stability and development in the world.
