On 17 November 2021, H.E. Mr. Vijavat Isarabhakdi, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, attended the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Ministerial Meeting hosted by Bahrain, via video conference.
The Meeting congratulated Bahrain on its assumption of the ACD Chair for 2021-2022 under the theme “Post-Pandemic, Green Recovery in the Health Field”. Furthermore, the Meeting adopted the Second ACD Blueprint 2021-2030 which will serve as a guideline to steer cooperation in 6 areas towards the realisation of the ACD Vision 2030.
As the ACD Coordinator, Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to drive cooperation under the ACD framework for mutual benefits of the members. Thailand also urged ACD member countries to enhance cooperation and explore alternative economic models, including the Bio-Circular- Green (BCG) Economy Model, for post COVID-19 economic recovery. As the host economy of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) for 2022, Thailand reiterated its readiness to intertwine cooperation between ACD and APEC to drive forward regional development under the theme “Open-Connect-Balance."
ACD, of which Thailand was a co-founder, was inaugurated in 2002 with an aim to be a pan-Asian cooperation and policy dialogue, as well as foster understanding and mutual trust among Asian countries. Currently, ACD comprises 35 Member States.