DUSHANBE, October 17, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- Tajik President Emomali Rahmon is participating in a two-day summit of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) that is concluding in Kuwait today.

Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi, State Adviser to the President for Foreign Policy Erkin Rahmatulloyev, Minister of Economic Development and Trade Sharif Rahimzoda, Minister of Energy and Industries Gul Sherali, Minister of Transport Nizom Hakimov and other officials are accompanying President Rahmon on his visit to Kuwait.

According to the Tajik president’s official website, the summit participants are exchanging views on seeking solution to the problems connected with ensuring food security, access to energy and education as well as facilitating intercultural dialogue, economic integration, financial cooperation, etc.

Speaking at the meeting, Tajik leader reportedly called on the ACD member nations to increase volumes of financial and technical assistance provided to developing countries.

President Rahmon also offered to hold the next ACD energy forum next year in Dushanbe in to discuss expansion of renewable energy cooperation.

We will recall that the first ACD energy forum took place in Bali, Indonesia from September 26 to September 28 2005.  The ACD energy forum is the main forum to deliberate on issues related to the energy field in the ACD.  

The Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) is a body created in 2002 to promote Asian cooperation at a continental level and to help integrate separate regional cooperation organizations such as ASEAN, SAARC and the Gulf Cooperation Council.  The ACD was founded by 18 members and currently comprises the 32 states (including all current members of ASEAN and the GCC).

The main objectives of the ACD are to: promote interdependence among Asian countries in all areas of cooperation by identifying Asia''s common strengths and opportunities which will help reduce poverty and improve the quality of life for Asian people whilst developing a knowledge-based society within Asia and enhancing community and people empowerment; expand the trade and financial market within Asia and increase the bargaining power of Asian countries in lieu of competition and, in turn, enhance Asia''s economic competitiveness in the global market; serve as the missing link in Asian cooperation by building upon Asia''s potentials and strengths through supplementing and complementing existing cooperative frameworks so as to become a viable partner for other regions; ultimately transform the Asian continent into an Asian Community, capable of interacting with the rest of the world on a more equal footing and contributing more positively towards mutual peace and prosperity.