At the official invitation of Dr Ali Bagheri Kani, Acting Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the current Chair of Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe participated in the 19th Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Ministerial Meeting which was held on 24 June 2024 in Tehran, Iran.
Foreign Ministers and representatives of the ACD Member States attended the 19th ACD Ministerial Meeting, which was held at the Parsian Azadi Hotel in Tehran. At the meeting, the delegations welcomed the theme of Iran’s ACD Chairmanship: “A more Inter-connected and Empowered Asia through New and Emerging Technologies” and delivered their respective country statements.
On the morning of 24 June 2024, Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe delivered a statement at the 19th ACD Ministerial Meeting.
In his statement, the Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Minister congratulated the dedication and exemplary efforts of Iran, the current Chair of the ACD and commended Bahrain, the previous Chair of ACD, for its successful Chairmanship. He also welcomed Thailand, the upcoming Chair of ACD.
At the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs also conveyed Myanmar’s condolences on the passing of President Mr Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Dr Hossein Amir-Abdollahian of Iran and mentioned that their legacies and active involvement in ACD cooperation will be remembered and valued.
At the 19th ACD Ministerial Meeting, Foreign Ministers and representatives cordially discussed and exchanged views on matters related to ACD Cooperation mechanisms as well as regional and global issues. Moreover, the ACD Member States updated the meeting on the developments taking place in their respective countries.
At the meeting, the “Guiding Principles for the Functioning of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue Secretariat” and “Rules of Procedure of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue” were approved. In addition, the “Tehran Declaration” was adopted by consensus as an outcome document of the 19th ACD Ministerial Meeting.
During the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs also updated the Myanmar Government’s efforts to ensure peace, development, and democracy in the country, as well as the latest developments of Myanmar to the Heads of Delegation of ACD Member States.
On the evening of 23 June 2024, Dr Ali Bagheri Kani, Acting Foreign Minister of Iran, hosted an official dinner in honour of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and delegations of ACD Member States at the Espinas Palace Hotel in Tehran.
The Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) was inaugurated in June 2002 in Cha-Am, Thailand. Currently, 35 countries representing five (5) Regional Groups of Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia, Central Asia and East Asia are members of the ACD. Myanmar is one of the founding members of ACD.
By and large, ACD aims to promote interdependence among Asian countries and transform the Asian continent into an Asian community. The ACD Secretariat was inaugurated in October 2013, with its headquarters in Kuwait City, the State of Kuwait.
At the moment, the Member States of ACD have agreed on six (6) priority pillars of Cooperation that are in line with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, namely: 1) Connectivity; 2) Science, Technology and Innovation; 3) Education and Human Resource Development; 4) Food, Energy and Water Security; 5) Culture and Tourism; and 6) Inclusive and Sustainable Development.
The representatives from 31 ACD Member States and eight (8) regional and international organizations have participated in the 19th ACD Ministerial Meeting held in Iran. — MNA
