WAM Kuwait, Oct 14th, 2012 (WAM)--The Deputy Kuwaiti Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah, inaugurated today the preparatory meeting of the Foreign Ministers ahead of Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Summit, to be held in Kuwait from Oct. 16- 17.
Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, State Minister for Foreign Affairs led the UAE delegation to the meetings on Saturday. The final communiqu? includes 22 articles on the economic cooperation among the Asian countries.
The UAE minister thanked Kuwait for hosting the forum, lauding the initiative of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah, Amir of Kuwait, for inviting the leaders to attend first forum. "It reflects the keenness of Kuwait on boosting the cooperation among the Asian countries." He also thanked the Kingdom of Thailand, general coordinator of the forum, for its efforts. Gargash welcomed the joining of Afghanistan to the forum. He added that the membership has so far reached 32 states.
The UAE minister underlined that the summit would be convened amid rapid changes being experienced by the world, adding that "this requires concerted efforts to adopt firm strategies to further strengthen 20 cooperation fields endorsed by the member states." He added that the UAE has given the issues of international security and peace a maximum priority in the light of its respect to the United Nations convention and international law provisions, especially on respect of sovereignty of countries, non interference in the internal affairs, non use of violence or threat, and resort to the amicable means to settle the conflicts.
Gargash added that "this firm political strategic method of the UAE is not confined to the bilateral and regional relations, but also reflects it approach in tackling the whole issues. " He said that the UAE cares about the issues of renewable energy to provide sources of sustainable and clean energy, citing that Irena has been endorsed as an observer in the UN. Gargash called on those who did not yet join the Irena to do so. Gargash said the UAE hosted early this year World Future Energy Summit.
He added that the UAE welcomes the resolutions of (Rio + 20) Conference held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, last June.
Gargash called for expansion of inter trade, opening of markets and exploiting investment opportunities and increasing the economic growth rates among the member states to boost the economic competitive capacities in the world markets.
He hoped the forum would have good impact on the cultural communication among peoples to encourage the culture of tolerance and dialogue. He disclosed the UAE would host the third meeting of the cultural cooperation this year.
The Kuwait Deputy Prime Minister stressed the keenness of Kuwait on supporting the development in Asia through financing of different development projects through the Kuwait Fund for Economic Development in cooperation with the Asian governments. He added the total volume of Kuwait grants and development assistance stood at about $5.5 billion.
WAM/MN
Source: WAM