TEHRAN – Iranian Acting Foreign Minister Ali Baqeri Kani has met with representatives from Kazakhstan and Singapore, who are in Tehran to attend a meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD).

TEHRAN – Iranian Acting Foreign Minister Ali Baqeri Kani has met with representatives from Kazakhstan and Singapore, who are in Tehran to attend a meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD).

Akan Rakhmetullin, Kazakhstan's deputy foreign minister, and Ong Keng Yong, special envoy of the Singaporean foreign minister, met with Bagheri Kani on Sunday on the sidelines of the ACD summit in Tehran.

Their discussions with Baqeri Kani, which took place on Sunday morning, centered on the objectives and collaborative opportunities within the ACD framework.

The ACD summit, which gathers foreign ministers from the member countries, is scheduled to take place on June 23 and 24. 

Since October 2023, the Islamic Republic of Iran has held the chairmanship of the ACD, taking over from Bahrain's leadership.

The acting Foreign Minister of Iran, expressed his enthusiasm on social media, stating, "We are honored to host the meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) ministers in Tehran and to chair this meeting." He emphasized the significance of the event, noting that "41 delegations from ministers and international organizations will participate in this meeting."

Baqeri Kani highlighted the broader implications of the summit, stating, "This event provides a platform to strengthen cooperation among Asian countries and demonstrates the Asian desire for multilateralism and inclusiveness." The ACD aims to foster unity and collaboration across Asia, enhancing the region's global standing and mutual growth.

As the summit unfolds, the diverse representation of Asian nations underscores the commitment to regional solidarity and cooperation, paving the way for a more integrated and prosperous Asia.

On Sunday, senior officials of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) gathered in Tehran, chaired by Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy, Mehdi Safari.

Representatives from 32 countries assessed the latest developments and reviewed documents for approval at the upcoming ACD Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

Earlier on Saturday, Safari informed reporters that a primary objective of the ACD Foreign Ministers' Meeting is to achieve synergy among Asian nations in various sectors.

He highlighted that the ACD summit in Tehran offers an excellent platform for enhancing cooperation between the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS.

Iran has previously hosted significant ACD events, including a summit of foreign ministers, a meeting of heads of chambers of commerce, and a tourism ministers' conference in the historic city of Yazd.

During the last ACD Ministerial Meeting, held on the sidelines of the 78th UN General Assembly session in New York in September 2023, the late Foreign Minister of Iran, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, emphasized the importance of multilateralism. He stressed the role of organizations like the ACD in fostering consensus among countries to address global challenges and create growth opportunities.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to maximize its contribution to the ACD during its chairmanship, in close coordination with Member States and the Secretariat," Amir Abdollahian had stated.

"A More Integrated and Capable Asia through Emerging New Technologies" had been set as the slogan for this round of the ACD, according to the late Iranian diplomat, inviting the member countries of the organization to take part in the 2024 meeting of the forum in Tehran.

After the tragic death of Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian in a helicopter crash on May 19, Ali Bagheri Kani was appointed acting Foreign Minister, continuing Abdollahian's responsibilities.

The meeting of top diplomats from ACD member states, hosted by Iran and chaired by Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani, will take place on June 24, 2024.

The ACD, established two decades ago and headquartered in Kuwait, is the first continent-wide forum of its kind in Asia. It comprises 35 member countries and was chaired by Bahrain for the past two years.

More specifically, the ACD aims to integrate every Asian country into a cohesive community without duplicating other organizations or forming exclusive blocs. Its core mission is to consolidate Asia's strengths and enhance the continent's competitiveness by leveraging its diversity and abundant resources.