Asia Cooperation Dialogue

The Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) is a body created in 2002 to promote Asian cooperation at a continental level, helping to integrate the previously separate regional organizations of political or economical cooperation such as ASEAN, SAARC or the Gulf Cooperation Council. A few individuals see it as a precursor to an "Asian Union".

Origins and History

"The idea of an Asia Cooperation Dialogue - ACD - was initiated by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand and was first raised during the First International Conference of Asian Political Parties held in Manila between 17-20 September 2000 by Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai, then Deputy Leader of the Thai Rak Thai Party, on behalf of his Party Leader, Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra, who 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 between 23-24 July 2001 and at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat in Phuket between 20-21 February 2002. Both Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai raised the idea of the ACD with various heads of state and government and foreign ministers and made various statements and speeches, receiving broad support and helpful comments and suggestions." In recent times, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has expressed a desire to form an "Asian Union" based upon the existing European Union, stating "We need to have a vision for an Asia-Pacific community; The danger of not acting is that we run the risk of succumbing to the perception that future conflict in our region may somehow be inevitable."^[1]

Ministerial Meetings

• 1st ACD Ministerial Meeting: 18–19 June in Cha Am, Thailand.
• 2nd ACD Ministerial Meeting: 21–22 June 2003 in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
• 3rd ACD Ministerial Meeting: 21–22 June 2004 in Qingdao, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China.
• 4th ACD Ministerial Meeting: 4–6 April 2005 in Islamabad, Pakistan.
• 5th ACD Ministerial Meeting: 23–24 May 2006 in Doha, Qatar.
• 6th ACD Ministerial Meeting: 5–6 June 2007 in Seoul, South Korea.

Member States

Membership and expansion of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue. Note that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is recognised or acknowledged by the member states as part of the People's Republic of China (PRC), but de facto does not have any representation.

The ACD currently brings together 30 states from Asia.

The 18 founding member-states were the following (which included all ten members of ASEAN):

In 2003, at the 2nd ACD Ministerial Meeting, 4 new member-states were accepted:

•  Kazakhstan
•  Kuwait
•  Oman
•  Sri Lanka

In 2004, at the 3rd ACD Ministerial Meeting, 3 new member-states were accepted:

•  Iran
•  Mongolia
•  United Arab Emirates

One more membership request was finally confirmed at the ACD Breakfast Meeting of 27 September 2004:

•  Bhutan

Two new member-states were accepted at the 4th ACD Ministerial Meeting, in 2005:

•  Russia
•  Saudi Arabia

Two more member-states were accepted at the 5th ACD Ministerial Meeting in Qatar in 2006:

•  Tajikistan
•  Uzbekistan

Main Objectives

"The main objectives of the ACD are as follows:

1. To 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. To 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. To 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. To 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."

Other Asian Countries

The remaining non member Asian countries and regions have not expressed any interest in joining the ACD:

Regarding Kyrgyzstan, it has recently initiated a request for inclusion as a member. This is to be taken up during the ACD Ministerial Meeting in Kazakhstan in October 2008.

See also

• Continental union
  • African Union
  • North American Union
  • Central Asian Union
  • European Union
  • Mediterranean Union
  • Pacific Union
  • Union of South American Nations
• International organization
• East Asia Community

References

External links

• Asia Cooperation Dialogue
• Association for Asian Union
• Boao Forum for Asia
• New Asia Forum

Articles, Editorials, and Reports

• Dialogue for an Asian Union: A Practical Way to a New World Order and for Combating Global Terrorism
• Why We Need an Asian Union
• European Policy Centre (2005-01): EU and Asian Integration Processes Compared
• The Guardian (2005-04-12): Hopes and Fears of an Asian Union
• International Herald Tribune (2005-06-18): Toward an 'Asian Union'?
• Asia Times (2005-10-01): Hedging China with FTAs
• International Herald Tribune (2005-12-16): An Asian Union? Not Yet
• Bangkok Post (2006-05-19): Towards a Truly Pan-Asian Community
• China Daily (2007-04-21): Asian Integration Still a Long Way Off

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