Foreign Minister chairs 18th Ministerial Meeting of Asian Cooperation Dialogue

New York, Sept. 20 (BNA): Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, chaired the 18th Ministerial Meeting of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), on the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The meeting was held under the theme of "Sustainable Recovery Post-Pandemic" and was attended by the Secretary General of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue, Dr. Pornchai Danvivathana, and representatives of member states.

Dr. Al Zayani highlighted Bahrain’s efforts during its presidency of the ACD (2021-2023), under the theme of "Sustainable Recovery Post-Pandemic," ensuring sustainable solutions and recovery from COVID-19 through effective planning, cooperation, early preparedness, and safety measures.

He highlighted that the kingdom has developed a conceptual paper on "Sustainable Recovery Post-Pandemic," outlining a framework for recovery and expressing hope for the Asian system's success and member states' sustainable development.

The Minister expressed gratitude to the member states for adopting the "Bahrain Declaration" and the State of Qatar for hosting the upcoming ACD Summit, hoping it will strengthen cooperation among states.

The meeting emphasised the constructive role of the ACD in promoting growth, development, and prosperity on the Asian continent, emphasising the importance of ongoing dialogue among member states.

The meeting issued the document "Bahrain Declaration," which underscored the need for sustainable healthcare recovery post-COVID-19, promoting policy support and the importance of an integrated healthcare system.

The Minister announced that the presidency of the forum was handed over to the Islamic Republic of Iran, wishing them success in managing the forum’s work in the coming period.