Nepal affirms commitment to regional cooperation, multilateralism at ACD ministerial meet 

KATHMANDU: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha has affirmed Nepal's strong commitment to regional cooperation and multilateralism. He emphasised the importance of implementing the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) vision for 2030, as well as the ACD Blueprint for 2021-2030. 

Minister Shrestha made this statement during his address at the 19th Ministerial Meeting of the ACD held in Tehran, the capital of Iran, on Monday according to a press statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the meeting, Minister Shrestha reiterated Nepal's commitment to regional cooperation and multilateralism. He stressed that achieving shared objectives of growth, sustainability, and prosperity, including the sustainable development goals (SDGs) for 2030, requires implementing the ACD vision. He further highlighted that the ACD has evolved into an Asia-wide regional forum for open and consultative dialogues on pressing issues affecting the region and beyond.

Additionally, Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha addressed challenges posed by the Covid 19 pandemic, climate change, global economic recession, rising conflicts, and geopolitical rivalry. He underscored the importance of collective vision, unity, solidarity, and mutual collaboration for a more integrated, resilient, and prosperous Asia.

During the ministerial meeting, key documents were adopted, including the Guiding Principles for the Functioning of the ACD Secretariat and the ACD Rules of Procedures. These documents provide a framework for cooperation among ACD members and serve as an essential basis for strengthening the ACD Secretariat institutionally.

On the sidelines of the ACD Ministerial Meeting, Minister Shrestha held bilateral meetings with several foreign officials, including Dr Ali Bagheri, Acting Foreign Minister of Iran; U Than Swe, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar; Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain; Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait; Walid bin Abdul Karim Al Khraiji, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; and Andrei Rudenko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. They discussed various matters of mutual interest, including pressing regional and global issues.

As an ACD member since 2016, Nepal actively engages with other Asian member states to promote areas of mutual benefit and complementarity.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Shrestha also participated in an interaction programme organised at the Honorary Consulate General of Nepal in Tehran. During this event, he committed to providing effective and timely consular services to Nepali Diasporas through relevant agencies of the Government of Nepal, including Shahram Shantiaee, Honorary Consul General of Nepal in Tehran. DPM Shrestha departed from Tehran for Kathmandu on the evening of June 24, 2024.