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Asian ministers welcome 2012 Asian summit of leaders in Kuwait

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) ms.hrz.sd KUNA 111533 Oct 11NNNN