His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

BANGKOK: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's participation in the 2nd Asia Cooperation Dialogue Summit (ACD) reiterates Kuwait's keenness to give impetus to the initiative to realize its goals, Assistant Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs Ambassador Ali Al-Said, told KUNA yesterday.

The 2nd ACD Summit kicks off in Bangkok, today for three days. The first ACD summit was held in Kuwait in 2012 upon His Highness the Amir's initiative as part of his interest in Asian economic development, and keenness on making Asia one of the main axes in paving the way for Kuwait to be a financial and commercial hub in the region.

Among the first achievements of the ACD was endorsing a permanent secretariat, to be based in Kuwait, in recognition of the country's leading role in Asian joint action, Al-Said said. He added that they look forward to further convergence among the Asian countries through the summit.

On His Highness the Amir's proposal for establishing a fund to support development projects in the ACD member states, Al-Said said that the 2nd Summit communique will include an item on the issue.

It will welcome the proposal, and entrust the summit's secretary general with taking the necessary measures for a work mechanism for the would-be fund. The summit, is held under the theme "One Asia, Diverse Strengths: Enhanced Partnership towards New Dynamism." The summit agenda includes aspects of cooperation among Asian countries in economic, environmental and humanitarian domains. Kuwait's Assistant Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs Ambassador Ali Al-Said represented his country in the meeting.

Attracting the leaders of 33 countries, the summit focuses on a host of major issues the Asian continent is facing in political, economic, trade, social and environmental areas.

Established in Thailand in 2001, the ACD Forum has held 10 meetings at the level of foreign ministers, the last of which was hosted by the State of Kuwait in 2012 under the auspices of His Highness the Amir. -KUNA