Iran to host officials from Asian countries in 19th ACD ministerial summit

Iran’s Foreign Ministry will host the ACD meeting of foreign ministers on Sunday and Monday, where they will discuss ways to promote and enhance cooperation among the members.

On Sunday, the first day of the summit, experts and senior executives from ACD member states will coordinate the topics to be discussed by senior diplomats the following day.

The foreign ministers will discuss and exchange opinions to make the best use of the ACD, as the only pan-Asian forum, and its diverse resources in building partnerships and bridging the gap between Asian countries and other regional forums.

Iran's acting foreign minister, Ali Bagheri Kani, will deliver a speech at the opening ceremony of the summit on Monday.

More than 30 foreign delegations at the level of ministers, deputy ministers or relevant deputies of foreign ministers, general secretaries of regional organizations and special envoys of member countries will participate in this meeting hosted by Iran’s Foreign Ministry.

Iran has assumed the presidency of the ACD since late 2023.

The first of its kind in Asia, the Asia Cooperation Dialogue is a continent-wide forum, which was inaugurated in Thailand in 2002. Its headquarters is based in Kuwait.

The forum has 35 Asian member countries, and in the last two years' chairmanship was up to Bahrain.

More specifically, the ACD aims to constitute a 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.