Press Release
19th Ministerial Meeting of Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD)
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Honorable Mr. Narayan Kaji Shrestha addressed the 19th Ministerial Meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) held in Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran, today.
In his address, Honorable Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs reiterated Nepal’s stronger commitment to regional cooperation and multilateralism and stressed the need to implement the ACD vision 2030 as well as ACD Blueprint 2021-2030 for achieving shared objectives of growth, sustainability and prosperity including SDGs 2030. He further stated that the ACD has evolved as an Asia-wide regional forum for open and consultative dialogues on pressing issues impacting the region and beyond.
In addition, Honorable Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Shrestha highlighted challenges posed by Covid-19, climate change, global economic recession, rising conflicts and geopolitical rivalry. He also underlines the importance of collective vision, unity, solidarity and mutual collaboration for a more integrated, resilient and prosperous Asia.
The Ministerial Meeting adopted the documents, namely, Guiding Principles for the Functioning of Asia Cooperation Dialogue Secretariat, and ACD Rules of Procedures which provide a framework of cooperation among ACD Members and an important basis for institutional strengthening of ACD Secretariat.
On the sidelines of the ACD Ministerial Meeting, Honorable Mr. Shrestha held bilateral meetings with H.E. Dr. Ali Bagheri, Acting Foreign Minister of Iran; H.E. U Than Swe, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar; H.E. Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani, Minister of Foreign affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain; H.E. Mr. Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait; H.E. Mr. Walid bin Abdul Karim Al Khraiji, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; H.E. Mr. Andrei Rudenko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; and discussed on various matters of mutual interests including pressing regional and global issues.
As a member of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) since 2016, Nepal has been engaging with other Asian Member States with a view to promoting various areas of mutual benefits and complementarities.
Hon. Mr. Shrestha also attended an interaction program organized at the Honorary Consulate General of Nepal in Tehran with Nepali Diasporas this evening and committed to providing effective and timely consular services to them through relevant agencies of the Government of Nepal including through Mr. Shahram Shantiaee, Honourary Consul General of Nepal in Tehran.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs is leaving Tehran for Kathmandu in the evening of 24 June 2024.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Singha Durbar, Kathmandu
24 June 2024
