Qatar yesterday chaired the 16th Ministerial Meeting of the Member States of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD). The meeting is held under the theme ‘Partners in Progress’, within the framework of existing efforts to promote partnerships for integrated economic growth by developing sustainable social, economic, environmental and development strategies, in line with the ACD Vision 2030.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani opened the meeting and stressed the need to deepen cooperation among Asian countries to meet the challenges of the future.
The Deputy Prime Minister pointed to the need to address the challenges of the future by deepening and intensifying ties of cooperation and creating healthy environments to build healthy and balanced relations between the countries based on respect for international legitimacy and on the proper resolution of disputes in a manner that guarantees justice, strengthens mutual trust and achieves real partnership.
“We in the State of Qatar appreciate our relationship with the Asian countries with which we have long-standing historical relations,” he said.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs 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 and economic resources, which are elements of the success of the process of economic integration.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi reiterated Qatar’s commitment to the fundamental objectives of the ACD initiative and announced the initiative of the State of Qatar to teach Arabic to non-Arabic speakers. He praised the positive discussions which led to the adoption of the Doha Declaration 2019 and the establishment of a new vision for a new phase of harmonious work among all Member States.
It must be mentioned that Asian economies have been witnessing increasing growth rates. The delegations of ACD member countries stressed the importance of enhancing joint cooperation to meet current global economic challenges. They called for the development of new mechanisms of cooperation in the areas of investment, infrastructure, transport, communications, science and technology, food security and sustainable energy security and the building of a culture of peace and stability throughout the Asian continent.
ACD Secretary-General Bundit Limschoon hailed the role played by Qatar in reviving the Asian Cooperation Dialogue. The endeavour launched by Qatar to revive this dialogue aims to rebuild and establish the confidence and morale of member states, he said, expressing the hope that the Doha meetings will lead to fruitful results in terms of restoring and maintaining the confidence of Member States.
