ACD can be an alternative platform for cooperation in a world of rising challenges: Secretary General

THE TIMES KUWAIT REPORT

On the sidelines of the recently concluded Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey, The Times Kuwait spoke with the Secretary General of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), Nasser Al Mutairi. We spoke about his vision for the ACD, its strengths and weaknesses, and ultimately, how it can be a force for change in the Asian continent.

Can you give us an understanding of exactly what ACD is? We understand it attempts to foster dialogue and connectivity in the Asian continent, but what does that entail?

Well, ACD is an intergovernmental forum established in 2002 in Thailand, With the aim of enhancing cooperation among member states in all fields, as well as to jointly address global challenges, achieve sustainable development, and work towards further regional integration through dialogue, joint projects. Member states also seek to implement the ‘Vision of Asia’ which is based on the six pillars which is Connectivity, STI, Culture and tourism, Education and human resource development, food energy and water security and Sustainable development

When you talk about ‘Rising to Global challenges’, how difficult is this, given that many of the member states have different foreign policies or at least foreign policies that are not similar.

Well, actually, we have a lot of challenges. One of them is the diversity of political systems in member states, which leads to differences in priorities, interests, policy strategies, and economic disparities, as well as in responses to evolving situations and environmental challenges, all of which sometimes hinder full cooperation., We also have another challenge, which is that the decision mechanism in ACD is based on consensus, which is at times very hard to reach. While member states have varying approaches to international issues such as Palestine, ACD remains a neutral space that fosters dialogue and consensus-building on such matters.

Has there been any sort of fruitful discussion on Gaza, and on how the ACD might play a role in ending the war?

While no formal discussion has taken place yet, there is a growing sense of urgency among member states, and we are fully prepared to support any initiative that promotes peace and humanitarian solutions in the region.

Can you tell us more about the similarities that these countries have, because what is so unique about ACD is that it represents the Asian continent. There are so many differences as you’ve just alluded to. I mean, there are different religions, different languages, different foreign policies, so what brings these countries together?

Well, I think there are many reasons, but the three main reasons, in my opinion, are: Firstly, in order to meet or address global challenges we need to have cooperation among member states, as individual countries cannot overcome them alone. A collective effort is needed. Secondly, cooperation among member states is essential in order to achieve sustainable development, economic growth, and regional integration. Thirdly, it is vital to promote the idea of ‘One Asia’ to play an important role on the international stage. Asia possesses a huge potential. It is an economic hub hosting major banks and financial institutions, And it is one of the largest global exporters of goods and services. Also, Asia is helpful in maritime transportation, and rich in natural resources like natural gas. So by leveraging these potentials, optimizing the workforce, and applying advanced technologies, I believe that Asia can play an important role on the international stage.

You talk about focusing on what the ACD member states have in common, rather than focusing on their difference, and that one of the core tenets of ACD is promoting tolerance, diversity and mutual respect. As a career diplomat, you have lived all over the world and have a wealth of experience interacting with people from different cultures and different backgrounds. Do you see that tolerance is on the rise or on the decline among member states?

Well I believe that tolerance doesn’t arise automatically. I mean, it arises with dialogue and cultural exchange. Nowadays, We have good signs about the importance and awareness of tolerance and mutual respect of culture, although cultural and linguistic diversity among member states can make this challenging. One of our principles is to be positive in our thinking. The ACD is promoting cooperation on education and cultural exchange, also promoting cooperation through movies, festivals, tourism and learning languages, education and human resource development. It is very important to accept the culture of another country or another person, and it is not acceptable to impose the values of your culture on others.

ACD has done such important work over the course of the last 20 years. So over the course of the next five or ten years, where do you hope to see the ACD?

First of all, we are seeking to transform this dialogue forum into an organization. There are initiatives in this regard from Kuwait. As an organization, the ACD will have a fixed budget on which it can rely to carry out its functions and pursue its aims. An organizational structure will also bring about more commitment from members and will enable us to engage in cooperative initiatives with other similar organizations.

Besides that, we are working on increasing the visibility of ACD, and there are many options in this regard. Amid the evolving geopolitical, economic, and developmental challenges facing the world today, I believe that organizations such as the ACD can play an important role by providing an alternative platform for cooperation between nations, and serving as a beacon of stability in an increasingly unpredictable global order.