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. World map showing the location of Asia. ... ASEAN[1], pronounced // (AH-SEE-AHN) in English, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a geo-political and economic organization of 10 countries located in Southeast Asia, which was formed on August 8, 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand[2] as a display of solidarity... The South Asian Association for Regional Co-Operation, or SAARC, (established December 8, 1985) is an association of 7 countries of South Asia namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. ... ...

Origins and History

"The idea of an Asia Cooperation Dialogue - ACD - was initiated by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra 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." Wikinews has news related to: Thaksin Shinawatra   (Thai: , IPA: ; born July 26, 1949 in Chiang Mai, Thailand), Thai businessman and politician, is the deposed Prime Minister of Thailand and the former leader of the populist Thai Rak Thai party. ... Surakiart Sathirathai (Thai: สุรเกียรติ์ เสถียรไทย, born June 7, 1958, Bangkok) is a Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand oversseing Foreign Affairs, Education and Culture. ... Thai Rak Thai (ไทยรักไทย, lit. ... Wikinews has news related to: Thaksin Shinawatra   (Thai: , IPA: ; born July 26, 1949 in Chiang Mai, Thailand), Thai businessman and politician, is the deposed Prime Minister of Thailand and the former leader of the populist Thai Rak Thai party. ... ASEAN[1], pronounced // (AH-SEE-AHN) in English, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a geo-political and economic organization of 10 countries located in Southeast Asia, which was formed on August 8, 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand[2] as a display of solidarity... ASEAN[1], pronounced // (AH-SEE-AHN) in English, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a geo-political and economic organization of 10 countries located in Southeast Asia, which was formed on August 8, 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand[2] as a display of solidarity... Wikinews has news related to: Thaksin Shinawatra   (Thai: , IPA: ; born July 26, 1949 in Chiang Mai, Thailand), Thai businessman and politician, is the deposed Prime Minister of Thailand and the former leader of the populist Thai Rak Thai party. ... Surakiart Sathirathai (Thai: สุรเกียรติ์ เสถียรไทย, born June 7, 1958, Bangkok) is a Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand oversseing Foreign Affairs, Education and Culture. ...

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.

2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A street scene in Chiang Mai, showing (centre right), a gate of the old city wall. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...   (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Ching-tao), well-known to the West by its Postal map spelling Tsingtao, is a sub-provincial city in eastern Shandong province, Peoples Republic of China. ... Shandong (Simplified Chinese: 山东; Traditional Chinese: 山東; pinyin: Shāndōng; Wade-Giles: Shan-tung) is a coastal province of eastern Peoples Republic of China. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Islamabad (Urdu: اسلام آباد (Meaning Abode of Islam)), is the capital city of Pakistan, and is located in the Potohar Plateau in the northwest of the country. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Doha (Arabic: ‎, translit: or ), population 400,051 (2005 census), is the capital of Qatar and is at , on the Persian Gulf. ...

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. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Republic of China is commonly known as Taiwan or Chinese Taipei, and it is not to be confused with the Peoples Republic of China. ...

The 18 founding member-states were the following (which included all ten members of ASEAN): ASEAN[1], pronounced // (AH-SEE-AHN) in English, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a geo-political and economic organization of 10 countries located in Southeast Asia, which was formed on August 8, 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand[2] as a display of solidarity...

In 2003, at the 2nd ACD Ministerial Meeting, 4 new member-states were accepted: Image File history File links Flag_of_Bahrain_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Bangladesh. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brunei. ... Motto Always in service with Gods guidance(translation) Anthem Allah Peliharakan Sultan God Bless the Sultan Capital (and largest city) Bandar Seri Begawan Official languages Malay (national), English Government Absolute monarchy  -  Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Independence  -  End of British protectorate January 1, 1984  Area  -  Total 5,765 km² (170th) 2... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cambodia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_India. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Indonesia_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Korea_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Laos. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Malaysia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Myanmar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Pakistan_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Philippines. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Qatar_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Singapore_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Thailand. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Vietnam. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

•  Kazakhstan
•  Kuwait
•  Oman
•  Sri Lanka

In 2004, at the 3rd ACD Ministerial Meeting, 3 new member-states were accepted: Image File history File links Flag_of_Kazakhstan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Kuwait. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Oman_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sri_Lanka. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

•  Iran
•  Mongolia
•  United Arab Emirates

One more membership request was finally confirmed at the ACD Breakfast Meeting of 27 September 2004: Image File history File links Flag_of_Iran. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mongolia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates. ... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

•  Bhutan

Two new member-states were accepted at the 4th ACD Ministerial Meeting, in 2005: Image File history File links Flag_of_Bhutan. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

•  Russia
•  Saudi Arabia

Two more member-states were accepted at the 5th ACD Ministerial Meeting in Qatar in 2006: Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia. ...

•  Tajikistan
•  Uzbekistan

Image File history File links Flag_of_Tajikistan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_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."

See also

• Continental union
  • African Union
  • European Union
  • North American Union
  • Pacific Union
  • South American Community of Nations
• International organization

A continental union, often abbreviated to CU, is an inter-governmental or supra-national political union of countries located in the same continent, or close to it. ... Anthem: Let Us All Unite and Celebrate Together Capital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Membership 53 member states Official languages The languages of Africa, as well as Arabic, English, French, and Portuguese Formation - As Organisation of African Unity - As AU - May 25, 1963 - July 9, 2002 Chairman of the African Union John... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... In 2004, a committee of the Australian Senate called for the formation of a Pacific Union to comprise the member-states of the Pacific Islands Forum, but with a common charter, institutions and currency. ... The South American Community of Nations (CSN) (Spanish: , Portuguese: , Dutch: ) will be a continent-wide free trade zone that will unite two existing free-trade organizations—Mercosur and the Andean Community—eliminating tariffs for non-sensitive products by 2014 and sensitive products by 2019. ... An international organization, or more formally intergovernmental organization (IGO), is an organization, such as the European Community or the WTO, with sovereign states or other IGOs as members. ...

External links

• ACD official site
• Dialogue for an Asian Union: A Practical Way to a New World Order and for Combating Global Terrorism
• Association for Asian Union
• Boao Forum for Asia
• Israeli Supporters of an Asian Union (Hebrew)