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Heads of states and governments, delegations of sisterly and friendly countries, leaders and high-ranking officials of the countries participating in the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Summit
By: Muhammad Arif, Editor NSN.Asia
Doha: The 19th edition of Asia Cooperation Dialogue Summit will commence on Thursday, October 3, 2024, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Doha, Qatar, with the participation of a number of heads of states and governments, delegations of sisterly and friendly countries, leaders and high-ranking officials of the countries participating in the Summit.
The summit under the theme “Sports Diplomacy” will be focusing on promoting cooperation in sports diplomacy across various dimensions among ACD Members.
The Asian Cooperation Dialogue Summit, known as ACD, consists of 35 Asian countries, which has been promoting intra-Asian dialogue for more than 20 years with the aim of implementing various cooperation projects and programs in the economic and cultural fields.
At the summit level meeting in Doha, ACD leaders will address and seek solutions to geopolitical challenges and competition in a constructive manner, fostering relationships that transcend politics and differences, thereby promoting unity, peace, and prosperity.
According to the official sources, the summit will emphasize the role and participation of the private sector in enhancing cooperation and developing a favorable environment for finance and trade, which creates investment opportunities for businesses from ACD Members. Cooperation in tourism and culture, energy collaboration, and climate change mitigation as well as physical and digital connectivity will also be discussed at the Meeting. The upcoming ACD Summit will be the Prime Minister’s first engagement at a Summit level meeting since assuming the premiership. This participation reflects Thailand’s leading role on the international stage and its willingness to assume the ACD Chairmanship in 2025.
The ACD, inaugurated in 2002 by Thailand, is a pan-Asia cooperation and policy dialogue forum aimed at promoting understanding, mutual trust, and mutual interest among Asian countries, as well as finding common solutions to global challenges. It currently consists of 35 Member States and represents more than 50 percent of world population. Moreover, Thailand hosted the 2nd ACD Summit in Bangkok in 2016.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will attend the 3rd Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Summit in Doha, Qatar, from 2-3 October, at the invitation of Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Emir of Qatar.
She will deliver a speech outlining her vision for economic development, resource management, sports diplomacy, and cooperation on global challenges. The premier will also highlight Thailand’s readiness to lead as the ACD chair in 2025.
This marks Paetongtarn’s first overseas engagement since taking office, attracting global media attention and offering opportunities for strengthening bilateral ties, trade, and investment.
The summit will adopt the Doha Declaration, aimed at boosting sports diplomacy and positioning the ACD as Asia’s key platform for policy discussions.
After an eight-year break due to the pandemic, the ACD Summit resumes with Qatar hosting and Iran presiding.
ACD is a continent-wide forum, which provides a platform to Asian countries to regularly exchange views on areas of mutual interest and foster an Asian community.
The Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) was inaugurated in June 2002 in Cha-Am, Thailand, where 18 Asian Foreign Ministers met together for the first time. The ACD is a continent-wide forum, the first of its kind in Asia. More specifically, the ACD aims to constitute the missing link in Asia by incorporating every Asian country and building an Asian Community without duplicating other organizations or creating a bloc against others. A key principle is to consolidate Asian strengths and fortify Asia’s competitiveness by maximizing the diversity and rich resources evident in Asia. The core values of the ACD are positive thinking; informality; voluntarism; non-institutionalization; openness; respect for diversity; the comfort level of member countries; and the evolving nature of the ACD process.
Since its inception, the ACD has rapidly developed in two dimensions, namely, dialogue and projects.
On the dialogue dimension, ACD Ministers have met annually at the ACD Ministerial Meetings to discuss ACD developments, issues of regional cooperation and ways to enhance and solidify Asian unity. In between, Foreign Ministers also meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September to update each other on the progress of ACD project cooperation, to hold constructive discussions on international issues of concern and to strengthen the ‘voice of Asia’ in the international arena.
On the projects dimension, currently, many countries have proposed to be prime movers in 20 areas of cooperation, such as energy, agriculture, biotechnology, tourism, poverty alleviation, IT development, e-education and financial cooperation.
At the community level, Thailand hosted the First ACD Think Tanks Symposium in December 2004 and has put together an ACD Think Tank Network composed of academic institutions, development networks and research groups nominated by ACD countries to serve as the academic arm of ACD. The objectives are to conduct in-depth study and support the development of the ACD as well as facilitate prime mover projects.
Thailand initiated the ACD to be a continent-wide cooperative framework guided by positive thinking and the comfort level of participants. The ACD aims to consolidate Asian strengths and fortify Asia’s competitiveness by maximizing the diversity and rich resources in Asia.
Currently, the ACD comprises 35 countries, namely: the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, the Kingdom of Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of India, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Korea, the State of Kuwait, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Nepal, the Sultanate of Oman, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the State of Palestine, the Republic of the Philippines, the State of Qatar, the Russian Federation, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Singapore, the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Kingdom of Thailand, the Republic of Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.
