Asia Cooperation Dialogue


The Asia Cooperation Dialogue is an inter-governmental organization created on 18 June 2002 to promote Asian cooperation at a continental level and to help integrate separate regional organizations such as ASEAN, SAARC, the Gulf Cooperation Council, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the Eurasian Economic Union.

History

The idea of an Asia Cooperation Dialogue was raised at the First International Conference of Asian Political Parties by Surakiart Sathirathai, then deputy leader of the now defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, on behalf of his party leader, Thaksin Shinawatra, then Prime Minister of Thailand. It was suggested that Asia as a continent should have its own forum to discuss Asia-wide cooperation. Afterwards, the idea of the ACD was formally put forward during the 34th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in Hanoi, 23–24 July 2001 and at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat in Phuket, 20–21 February 2002.

Ministerial meetings

Summits

Objectives

The main objectives of the ACD are to:
  1. Promote interdependence among Asian countries in all areas of cooperation by identifying Asia's common strengths and opportunities which will help reduce poverty and improve the quality of life for Asian people whilst developing a knowledge-based society within Asia and enhancing community and people empowerment;
  2. Expand the trade and financial market within Asia and increase the bargaining power of Asian countries in lieu of competition and, in turn, enhance Asia's economic competitiveness in the global market;
  3. Serve as the missing link in Asian cooperation by building upon Asia's potentials and strengths through supplementing and complementing existing cooperative frameworks so as to become a viable partner for other regions;
  4. Ultimately transform the Asian continent into an Asian Community, capable of interacting with the rest of the world on a more equal footing and contributing more positively towards mutual peace and prosperity.

    Member states

The ACD was founded by 18 members. Since March 2016, the organization consists of 34 states as listed below. Overlapping regional organization membership in italics.
NameAccession dateRegional organization
17 10 2012SAARC, ECO
18 6 2002GCC, AL
18 6 2002SAARC, BIMSTEC
27 9 2004SAARC, BIMSTEC
18 6 2002ASEAN
18 6 2002ASEAN, MGC
18 6 2002SCO
18 6 2002SAARC, BIMSTEC, MGC, SCO
18 6 2002ASEAN
21 6 2004ECO
18 6 2002—
21 6 2003CIS, ECO, SCO
18 6 2002—
21 6 2003GCC, AL
16 10 2008CIS, ECO, SCO
18 6 2002ASEAN, MGC
18 6 2002ASEAN
21 6 2004—
18 6 2002ASEAN, BIMSTEC, MGC
10 3 2016SAARC, BIMSTEC
21 6 2003GCC, AL
18 6 2002SAARC, SCO, ECO
18 6 2002ASEAN,
18 6 2002GCC, AL
4 4 2005CIS, CoE, SCO
4 4 2005GCC, AL
18 6 2002ASEAN
21 6 2003SAARC, BIMSTEC
5 6 2006CIS, ECO, SCO
18 6 2002ASEAN, BIMSTEC, MGC
26 9 2013CoE, ECO
21 6 2004GCC, AL
5 6 2006CIS, ECO, SCO
18 6 2002ASEAN, MGC