The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will become a member of the newly-created Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), Arab News reported today. It is a forum for consolidating the political will among Asian governments and offering opportunities to develop common approaches to issues of regional and international importance. The majority of the Kingdom's neighbors including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and Iran have already joined the forum. "The ACD currently comprises 25 countries and is the first forum that aims to eventually include all the countries in Asia," said Mustafa M.H. Kawthar, counselor at the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "The Kingdom is on its way to becoming a member," he said. Kawthar, who is also the director general handling Asian affairs at the Foreign Ministry, was speaking at the Thai Food Festival at the Faisaliyah Hotel here. The festival was inaugurated by Kawthar and Thai Charge D'Affaires Suvat Chirapant. Referring to the objectives of ACD which is growing as a strong non-institutionalized forum, Kawthar said it seeks to promote interdependence among Asian countries in all areas of cooperation by identifying Asia's common strengths and opportunities.
