DOHA: The participation of representatives from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain at the 16th Ministerial Meeting of Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) held in Doha is a positive sign, say sources.
The Foreign Ministry of Qatar welcomed the participation from two neighbouring countries. “It was good to see Saudi and Bahraini representatives within this Asian platform of cooperation here in Doha,” tweeted Lolwah Al Khater, spokesperson at the ministry.
“Differences can’t always be eradicated, but nations’ higher and collective interests should always take precedence. Hoping to see more political rationality in the coming days,” she wrote.
Muhana Salih Abu Alkhail, International Organisation Manager at the Foreign Ministry in Saudi Arabia, attended the meeting representing his country, while Muna Abbas Ridha, Manager of the Afro-Asian Affairs at the Foreign Ministry, represented Bahrain.
Meanwhile, talking to Arabic CNN in an interview, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said, “The State of Qatar also participates in all meetings relating to international and regional organisations held in the blockading countries. We will continue this approach and this will not change, and we find in their presence nothing that has to do with the crisis, especially since their participation is limited. This meeting is not a matter for them to solve the crisis, as it must be resolved at the level of leaders and through mediation initiated by His Highness the Amir of the State of Kuwait.”
The Doha Declaration issued by the Ministerial Meeting welcomed the proposal submitted by Qatar to host the third ACD summit in 2020, and its initiative to teach the Arabic language to non-Arabic speakers in the member states.
The declaration also praised Qatar’s hosting of the 16th ACD meeting, which was held over two days in Doha under the theme `Partners in Progress’.
Earlier, opening the 16th Ministerial Meeting of Asian Co-operation Dialogue, the Deputy Prime Minister said the meeting was taking place when the world is undergoing complex changes and developments in political, economic and financial spheres and stressed the need to deepen cooperation among Asian countries to meet the challenges of the future.
He pointed out that the Asian continent constitutes an influential bloc in this world, stressing the need to upgrade relations and cooperation among all countries of the continent in various fields to achieve the desired joint integration at bilateral and multilateral levels.
The high-profile meeting is witnessing the presence of foreign ministers and other senior leaders from countries of the Asian continent which hosts more than half of the world’s population.
Addressing a press conference on the sidelines of the meeting, Sheikh Mohamed said the unjust blockade imposed on Qatar was an obstacle in regional cooperation. “This dispute between us and some of the GCC countries plus Egypt is considered an obstacle for regional cooperation and for regional engagement but we hope that also the blockading states do not politicise all means of cooperation with other states because of this conflict,” he said.