LOC15:33
12:33 GMT
KUWAIT, Oct 11 (KUNA) -- The Tenth Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) held in
Kuwait issued its closing declaration on Tuesday, stressing economic,
financial, cultural, scientific and commercial factors as bases for progress,
and noting keenness to host a first-ever Asian leaders' summit in Kuwait in
2012.
"We have affirmed that exchanging expertise and holding various meetings
between specialists in the member states have contributed to increasing such
expertise between them and enhancing the concept of Asian cooperation," Asian
ministers said in their communique.
Asian ministers also "welcome the initiative of HH Amir of the State of
Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to host the first Asian summit
in the State of Kuwait," said the Kuwaiti declaration.
The two-day talks were attended by foreign ministers and delegates from 31
countries in the Asian continent.
Kuwait, which holds the forum's current presidency, called on member states
to transform the dialogue into "an 'institutional body' that would regulate
these meetings," the declaration said, referring to the proposal for the ACD
to emerge as a structural organization.
The declaration continued to refer to the continent's vast wealth in
manpower and huge geographic size, calling to utilize the potentials of
skilled youth.
It also referred to the continent's varied cultures, civilizations and
faiths as a stepping stone for cooperation and harmony.
"We emphasized that economic development was the key to the peace and
prosperity in the region and beyond," said the Kuwaiti declaration.
"One of the ACD's goals is to support the Asian countries when exposed to
any economic crisis or natural disaster.
If one of the continent's countries is affected with any of these, the
declaration noted that this "requires a high level of coordination between
member states for the provision of the necessary quick relief and support of
the ill-fated countries either on human, financial or technological levels."
ACD members would cooperate on health, disease control and the provision of
medical aid through encouraging the launch of pharmaceutical industries and
holding combined medical seminars to prevent the spread of epidemics.
Exchanged visits of representatives of other fields, like media, culture,
arts, literature, was also stressed as a source to strengthen relations.
The declaration furthermore expressed satisfaction on the role assumed by
regional organizations already in existence within the ACD, such as the
Shanghai initiative, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC),
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC), which will collectively aid the ACD's cause and objectives.
Promoting cultural interaction, with a view to making a more extensive,
in-depth and enduring exchange of ideas would be adopted by the ACD.
Environmental measures on the national, regional and international scales
and the need to address climate change were also touched upon.
Democracy and the respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights in
accordance with the fundamental principles of International Law and the UN
Charter, along with exchanged visits of parliamentarians contribute to
security and stability of ACD member countries, the declaration went on to
stress. (end)
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