The 14th Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Ministerial Meeting took place in Bangkok, Thailand on March 10, focusing on ways to enhance connection among Asian nations in the future. Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Dinh Quy led a Vietnamese delegation to the event.

Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Dinh Quy speaks at the dialogue.

In his opening speech, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha highlighted the great potential this cooperation mechanism has for promoting links among Asian nations, saying that he hopes the meeting will create a new motivation for ACD to bring more practical benefits to regional countries.

Participants stressed the need for ACD to maintain core values and contribute to stepping up existing regional and sub-regional cooperation mechanisms.

They also discussed a vision and orientations for ACD’s long-term development, and proposed solutions to improve the role and efficiency of this cooperation mechanism, to uphold Asia’s potential and central role in the global economy.

They also reached a consensus on the re-organisation of 20 cooperation fields within ACD into six pillars: connection; science and technology, innovation and creativeness; education and human resource development; inter-relationship in food security, energy and water resources; culture and tourism; and the promotion of approaches for sustainable and comprehensive growth.

Deputy Minister Quy stressed the role played by ACD in strengthening connection among its member nations in dealing with development challenges.

He said it is necessary to give cooperation priorities in adapting to climate change, protecting the environment and ensuring security of food, energy and water resources.

On the sidelines of the event, the Vietnamese delegation’s head had bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, China, and the host Thailand.

The Asia Cooperation Dialogue consists of 34 countries from the Asian region, including the newly-admitted member – Nepal.

The 15th ACD Ministerial Meeting will be hosted by the UAE in 2017.

VNA