35 Asian states represented in Tehran | Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the ACD Member States

Tehran hosted on June 24 the 19th summit of foreign ministers of the member countries of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD). The organization was founded in 2002 in Thailand and has grown to 35 countries so far. Iran was represented by acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri.

In its 22-year history, ACD has undertaken objectives in transport, science, technology and innovation, education and human resource development, food security, energy and water security, culture and tourism, and inclusion and sustainable development. Among the member states are Eurasian pillars such as Russia, China, Turkey, Japan, Kazakhstan, India, Iran and Indonesia but also other states in Central Asia, Southeast Asia and West Asia, more precisely in the Arab world.

The Tehran summit is a historic moment in Iran’s cooperation with this organization. Through the active presidency of the organization, in the period 2023-2024, the Islamic Republic continues its efforts to play a significant role in shaping a new regional order. In recent years, Iran has carried out intense diplomatic work to develop relations with different countries and to establish practical collaborations, using multilateral mechanisms.

The WFD is one of the most comprehensive mechanisms for intergovernmental dialogue and cooperation in Asia, essential for promoting the national, regional and global objectives of its members. The Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation, Ambassador Khusrav Noziri, addressed the meeting, commending the leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran as the current Chairman of the ACD and the ECO, and highlighted the organization’s achievements in terms of regional development and prosperity.

The Secretary-General stressed the importance of inter-organizational cooperation and proposed institutionalizing the links between the ACD and the ECO through a Memorandum of Understanding, with the aim of enhancing “collective efforts in achieving common goals” and unlocking new prospects for cooperation for member states.

Kazakhstan

On the sidelines of the meeting, there were several meetings between Ali Bagheri, acting foreign minister, and representatives of other states. In this regard, the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s website mentioned the discussion between Bagheri and Akan Rakhmetullin, First Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan under the title of “cordial relations in the post-Raisi era”. The discussion was held on June 23.

Bagheri said that the organization of the forum in Tehran, in the current circumstances in the region, indicates that Asian states are very determined and are able to open a new page in international relations based on the rejection of unilateralism and the establishment of a mechanism based on independence, justice and democracy, within the framework of multilateralism.

Referring to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, the minister said that the atrocities committed with the full support of the US and some Western countries are not only “flagrant and clear examples of the failure of unilateral mechanisms to establish stability, security and peace, but also a source of instability and disruption to global security and peace.”

He stressed that by strengthening multilateral mechanisms, by independent countries in the form of organizations such as ACD, lasting stability and security can be guaranteed. He added that it is the duty of independent and Islamic states to take steps to condemn the Zionist regime (Israel) and support the Palestinian people.

Rakhmetullin said he was delighted with his first trip to Tehran and expressed the deep condolences and sincere sympathy of the Kazakh government and nation for the loss of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.

He expressed hope that with the successful conduct of presidential elections in Iran and the formation of a new government, ties between the two neighboring countries will continue to prosper.

Bahrain

Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and Acting Minister Bagheri issued a joint statement following discussions on the ACD meeting. During the meeting, the two sides agreed on the necessary mechanisms to start talks between the two countries so as to make the necessary preparations for the resumption of political ties. The King of Bahrain recently said on a state visit to Russia that he is determined to resume ties with Iran.

Singapore

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Singapore, Ong Keng Yong, who participated in the ACD meeting, also had a bilateral meeting with Ali Bagheri. Bagheri said strengthening ties between regional organizations such as the ACD and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is in line with the interests of East Asian and West Asian states.

The senior diplomat expressed Iran’s readiness to strengthen relations between Iran and Singapore, especially economic and trade relations.

Ong Keng Yong noted that Singapore is ready to promote and intensify its ties with Iran bilaterally and stressed the need to intensify interactions between the two countries’ officials.