KATHMANDU: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha has reiterated Nepal’s stronger commitment to regional cooperation and multilateralism and stressed the need to implement the ACD vision 2030 as well as ACD Blueprint 2021-2030.

The DPM and Foreign Affairs Minister made this reiteration in his address to the 19th Ministerial Meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) held in Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran, on Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release.

On the occasion, he restated Nepal’s stronger commitment to regional cooperation and multilateralism and stressed the need to implement the ACD vision 2030 as well as ACD Blueprint 2021-2030 for achieving shared objectives of growth, sustainability and prosperity including SDGs 2030.

He further stated that the ACD has evolved as an Asia-wide regional forum for open and consultative dialogues on pressing issues impacting the region and beyond.

In addition, DPM Shrestha highlighted challenges posed by Covid-19, climate change, global economic recession, rising conflicts and geopolitical rivalry.

He also underlined the importance of collective vision, unity, solidarity and mutual collaboration for a more integrated, resilient and prosperous Asia.

The Ministerial Meeting adopted the documents, namely, Guiding Principles for the Functioning of Asia Cooperation Dialogue Secretariat, and ACD Rules of Procedures which provide a framework of cooperation among ACD Members and an important basis for institutional strengthening of ACD Secretariat.

On the sidelines of the ACD Ministerial Meeting, DPM and Foreign Minister Shrestha held bilateral meetings with 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; Mr Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait; Mr Walid bin Abdul Karim Al Khraiji, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Mr Andrei Rudenko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; and discussed on various matters of mutual interests including pressing regional and global issues.

As a member of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) since 2016, Nepal has been engaging with other Asian Member States with a view to promoting various areas of mutual benefits and complementarities.

DPM Shrestha also attended an interaction programme organized at the Honorary Consulate General of Nepal in Tehran with Nepali Diasporas in the evening on Monday and committed to providing effective and timely consular services to them through relevant agencies of the Government of Nepal including through Mr Shahram Shantiaee, Honourary Consul General of Nepal in Tehran.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs left Tehran for Kathmandu in the evening of 24 June 2024.

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