Iran Hosts Big Meeting for Asian Foreign Ministers in Tehran

Tehran, Iran – This week, Iran’s acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Bagheri Kani, announced that Tehran will host a Ministerial meeting for the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) member states. The meeting will include Foreign Ministers and senior officials from 35 countries, along with heads of regional and multilateral Asian organizations.

The event comes as Iran mourns the loss of late President Ebrahim Raisi and late Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian. Ali Bagheri Kani emphasized the Iranian government’s commitment to focusing on the East and fostering Asian identity, moving away from reliance on the West.

Bagheri Kani highlighted Iran’s active participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS, which are based on multilateral thinking. He also mentioned the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the efforts of ACD member states to end the violence and provide aid.

The ACD, established in 2002, includes 35 member states representing 56% of the world’s population and 35% of the global GDP. The organization aims to develop relations in various fields such as transportation, communication, science, technology, education, food, energy, water security, culture, tourism, and sustainable development.

Iran joined the ACD in 2004 and has been an active member. The ACD’s member states include countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and many others. The organization aspires to form an ‘Asian Community’ and eventually an ‘Asian Union.’

Yazd has been appointed as the ‘ACD Tourism Capital for 2024,’ and will host various cultural and tourism activities. Additionally, Isfahan recently hosted the Chambers of Commerce from ACD member states, resulting in the ‘Isfahan Pact.’

The ACD Ministerial meeting in Tehran will review and decide on measures and initiatives related to Iran’s foreign policy, which includes multilateralism, good neighborliness, and collective development through regionalism.