DUSHANBE, October 18, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Addressing the 7th Ministerial Meeting of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) in Astana, Kazakhstan on October 16, Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi announced Dushanbe’s readiness to host the 11th ACD Ministerial Meting in 2012, according to the Tajik MFA.  

The meeting participants seconded Tajik minister’s proposal. 

We will recall that Tajikistan joined ACD at the Fifth ACD Ministerial Meeting in Doha, Qatar in May 2006.   

The source at the MFA said that Kyrgyzstan had been admitted to ACD, bringing of the ACD members to 31.    

 Inaugurated in Thailand in June 2002, the ACD aims to constitute the missing link in Asia by incorporating every Asian country and building an Asian Community without duplicating other organizations or creating a bloc against others.  A key principle is to consolidate Asian strengths and fortify Asia''s competitiveness by maximizing the diversity and rich resources evident in Asia. 

Currently, the ACD comprises 31 countries: Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Vietnam, with Kyrgyzstan admitted at the Seventh ACD Ministerial Meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan on October 16, 2008.