TEHRAN – Iran’s hosting of the 19th Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) ministerial meeting shows the country is resilient and strong despite the tragic loss of President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, the Iranian deputy foreign minister for economic affairs said on Sunday. 

During a press conference at the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Mehdi Safari said that over 35 countries are in attendance at the summit, with substantial delegations that carry significant weight. “They are coming despite knowing that we have an election on June 28,” he pointed out. 

President Raisi and Minister Amir Abdollahian lost their lives during a helicopter crash in Iran’s mountainous northwestern region on May 19. 

While the tragedy plunged the nation into shock and dismay with grand funeral ceremonies following the incident in the coming days, the country managed to swiftly arrange snap elections to choose the next president. A day after the helicopter crash, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei appointed Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as the acting president. Ali Baqeri Kani who had been serving as the deputy foreign minister for political affairs also took charge as the acting top diplomat. 

ACD meeting to boost cooperation

Elsewhere in his remarks, Safari outlined the agenda of the meeting. “The meeting will primarily focus on two key aspects: dialogue and projects. By facilitating discussions among participating nations, the summit aims to foster understanding and cooperation. Additionally, the project section offers opportunities for joint initiatives, with the North-South corridor being highlighted as a potential avenue for mutual collaboration,” he said. 

The diplomat emphasized one of the key topics that will be discussed is the issue of Palestine and Israel’s ongoing brutal war in the besieged Gaza Strip. 

“One of the other main objectives of this summit is to strengthen existing alliances such as BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), D-8, and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). By maximizing the utilization of these partnerships, the ACD meeting hosted by Tehran aims to enhance regional cooperation and promote economic growth.”

Additionally, Safari revealed that Iran has proposed the establishment of six committees dedicated to various areas of focus including transit and communications, science and technology, education, culture and tourism, comprehensive and sustainable development, and trade and commerce for the summit. “These committees aim to facilitate scientific and commercial collaborations among 35 participating countries, providing platforms for cooperation and exchange of ideas,” he explained.