DUSHANBE , May 23, Asia-Plus – Foreign ministries from a select group of countries in Asia have gathered in Doha , Qatar for attending the 5 ^th Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Ministerial Meeting that will be held in Doha on May 23-24. 

The RIA Novosti news agency cited a spokesman for the Russian MFA Mikhail Kamynin as saying that the ACD foreign ministers’ meeting would consider applications of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan for joining this informal forum.   

According to the Russian MFA official, the meeting in Doha also will consider issues related to further organizational formation of the ACD, including creation of coordination mechanism of its activity – Secretariat, as well as prospects of further expansion of the forum’s composition.  

The ministers are also discussing some topical international and regional problems such as the situation in Iraq , Afghan problems and the situation around Iran .  A special attention will be paid to the possibility of expansion of cooperation between member nations of the ACD forum in finance and energy spheres.

ACD serves as an Informal Forum for the Foreign Ministries of a select group of countries in Asia to meet regularly to exchange views on issues of mutual interest and to promote cooperation in various fields including Energy, Transport links, IT development, Science and Technology, Financial cooperation and Agriculture. 

IRNA reports ACD currently comprises 28 countries, including Pakistan , China , Japan , Indonesia , India , Malaysia , Oman , Iran , Russia , Saudi Arabia , Qatar , South Korea and Kazakhstan .