The Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD): Progress and Potential

Source: Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), http://www.acddialogue.com/about/#01.

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs, who meet annually, constitute the ACD’s “higher body.” In the period between ministerial meetings, Foreign Ministers hold working meetings in which they discuss implementation of the projects and programs, exchange their views on key international and regional issues on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session. Senior officials meetings are held in preparation for the annual meeting of the ambassadors of the ACD members in Bangkok.

Signs of Progress

1. The First ACD Summit: One of the recent milestones in the ACD's evolution was the launch of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue Summit. The First ACD Summit was convened at Kuwait's initiative and held in Kuwait City in October 2012. The next two ACD Summits will be held in Thailand (2015) and Iran (2018). These summits are expected to enhance the levels of cooperation among the Asian countries.
2. E-Education Cooperation - Asia e-University: The prime mover of the ACD e-education project is Malaysia. In 2007, Asia e-University (AeU) was established in Kuala Lumpur, in accordance with the recommendations made at a number of ACD meetings (some examples are the 2004 Kuala Lumpur’s ACD e-Education Workshop and the Fourth ACD Ministerial Meeting in Pakistan). The AeU is also seen as a successful outcome of the close collaboration between Malaysia and the other ACD member countries. The AeU is distinctive. Its students, who come from different countries, benefit from the Asian credit transfer system established by the ACD. The AeU has eight schools with specific fields of expertise; for example, managerial, professional, engineering and technical. For some courses, the AeU operates under a flexible study mode which does not require face-to-face learning and teaching; students can do their studies at any time and location that suits them. The AeU has already stretched its wings by developing over 20 learning centers in foreign countries. The AeU believes that more networks will be formed with other higher learning institutions in Asia and other regions.

Energy Cooperation: The ACD Energy Action Plan

The ACD comprises both oil producers and oil consumers, who are expected to respond constructively to the rising demand for energy. Energy cooperation among the ACD member countries intends to ensure energy security and promote “energy accessibility and affordability.”[2] The six ACD member countries designated as the prime and co-prime movers of energy cooperation are Bahrain, China, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Qatar and the Philippines.

At the Fifth ACD Ministerial Meeting in May 2006 in Doha, Qatar, the participants endorsed the creation of the ACD Energy Forum and welcomed the drafting of an ACD Energy Action Plan.[3] Intended to be implemented in three years (2013-2015), the Energy Action Plan covers four core areas of cooperation: 1) the development and utilization of renewable energy resources and alternative fuels; 2) the exploration, development, and utilization of indigenous energy resources using efficient and environment-friendly technologies; 3) the promotion of energy efficiency and conservation measures/programs; and 4) the establishment of regional energy infrastructure network and linkages.[4] During the First ACD Summit in 2012, the member countries pledged their support for energy cooperation and backed the efforts to review, finalize, and adopt the ACD Energy Action Plan.

Agriculture

Agriculture was recommended and accepted as one of the ACD project areas in 2006 at the Fifth ACD Ministerial Meeting. Three ACD member countries — China, Pakistan and Kazakhstan — have taken the lead on agriculture projects. According to a concept paper proposed by China, the ACD strategies are expected to provide a venue for agricultural cooperation and exchanges among the ACD member countries. ACD agricultural cooperation focuses on agricultural trade, food security, and the quality of life in rural areas through information sharing on agricultural development and policy, the promotion of sustainable development, and the holding of relevant training courses.

China has taken the lead by organizing many seminars, forums, training courses, and relevant projects. The first such activity took place in October 2006, when Beijing hosted the ACD Agricultural Officials’ Seminar. The seminar involved officials from 20 ACD member states to study China’s agricultural development. In 2008, Beijing held a forum on the wholesale market in agriculture, in which participants from ACD countries shared their market management experiences.[5]

Financial Cooperation

The ACD member states required increased financial cooperation for several reasons. In the 2000s, Asian economies had limited sources of long-term finance stemming from underdeveloped capital and bond markets. The financial crisis that hit the Asian economies in 1997 necessitated the development of a regional financial architecture. This initiative could ensure financial stability in the region, specifically during periods of global imbalances, volatility and uncertainty.[6]

The development of the Asian bond market is a product of the financial cooperation that the ACD has promoted. This project implements the Chiang Mai Declaration on Asian bond market development. The leader (prime mover) of this initiative is Thailand. There is also a Working Group on Financial Cooperation which welcomes discussion and the exchange of views among experts. They typically touch on issues related to Asian bond market development.[7] In 2012, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Surapong Tovichakchaikul, stressed that the Asian bond market initiative should be re-assessed due to the growing Asian economic strength.

Middle East–Asia “Connections”

The GCC countries and Iran have embraced the opportunity to participate in the ACD. Qatar and Bahrain are the founding members and the rest joined the ACD in the following three years.  Some have played key roles as “prime movers” or “co-prime movers” of project areas: energy (Bahrain and Qatar), e-education (Iran), tourism (Bahrain), environmental education (Qatar and Bahrain) and cultural cooperation (Iran and Bahrain).

In 2012, Kuwait demonstrated “the importance of its Asian outreach…”[8] The Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, demonstrated his personal commitment and high confidence in promoting mutual cooperation among the ACD member states. His government strongly urged that all heads of state attend the First ACD Summit and thereby seize the opportunity to renew their collective efforts, consult more, and improve coordination. Previous ACD meetings, which had been held at the ambassadorial and foreign ministerial levels, had had an important limitation. As one commentator observed, "the difficulty of the earlier meetings from 2002 onwards was that nothing tangible was accomplished. Therefore it was not a serious dialogue." [9]

At the First ACD Summit, Kuwait called upon member countries to mobilize US$2 billion to benefit under-developed Asian countries (mainly non-Arab countries) in carrying out mid-sized projects. In a show of leadership, Kuwait then made a significant contribution of its own to this effort by pledging US$300 million.

Outlook for the ACD: Fulfilling Its Potential?

The ACD’s future looks promising. The 11-year-old ACD has taken important steps in becoming a relevant, constructive pan-Asian body with a forward-looking agenda, concrete plans and projects underway, and some noteworthy accomplishments. Iran and the GCC countries are active participants and in some respects, key players.

Conforming to core values, adopting a practical approach, and affirming strongly held beliefs have been the hallmarks of the ACD since its founding. One of the ACD’s nine core values is respect for diversity, which has helped to cement the civilizational and cultural connections between Muslim and non-Muslim countries. Respect for diversity also helps to promote harmony and understanding among the member states. The communiqué issued at the conclusion of the First ACD Summit highlighted the appropriate ways of dealing with different religions, stating: “The Summit affirms the importance of respecting all religions and beliefs, the right of freedom of expression and condemns any disrespect to religious figures.”[10] ACD member states hold a profound belief in the role of civilizations, cultures and religions. These three components are seen to boost cooperation and promote harmony among the member states.

Strict adherence to the core values of voluntarism and non-institutionalism has been both an asset and a liability for the ACD. Voluntarism and non-institutionalism have led to a “flexible model” of cooperation that has made participation in the ACD more appealing to its disparate members. In this regard, these values have served to nurture the development of an “Asian Community” and pool resources for common action. At the same time, however, they have impaired the ACD’s functioning on a practical level. There is a pressing need for a central administrative unit that will perform the ACD’s work more effectively and ultimately more successfully. In the report of the First ACD Summit, some member states (notably, Kuwait, Thailand, and Tajikistan) proposed the establishment of a secretariat which they believed would support and strengthen the ACD’s work. Kuwait expressed interest in hosting the ACD’s headquarters.[11] Unless and until a way can be found to reconcile the values of voluntarism and non-institutionalism with the requirements for the efficient and effective implementation of activities its members have agreed to undertake, the ACD will remain a useful vehicle for pan-Asian collaboration, but one whose potential to contribute to the wellbeing of ordinary people throughout Asia will not be fully realized.

[1] Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), http://www.acddialogue.com/about/#01.

[2] Communiqué of the First ACD Summit (October 15-17, 2012), http://www.acddialogue.com/upload/1st%20ACD%20Summit/Communique%20of%20the%201st%20ACD%20Summit.pdf.

[3] See Doha Declaration (May 24, 2006), http://www.acddialogue.com/key_documents/key_document05.php.

[4] Veeramalla Anjaiah, “RI Attempts to Boost Asian Energy Security,” Jakarta Post (October 15, 2012), http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/10/15/ri-attempts-boost-asian-energy-security.html.

[5]  Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “The People’s Republic of China, Assistant Foreign Minister Zhai Jun Attends the 7th Asia Cooperation Dialogue Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Kazakhstan,” (October 16, 2008), http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/zxxx/t518795.htm.

[6] “Thailand: Commentary – ACD helps Asia Interact with the World,” Thai News Service (May 22, 2006), http://www.lexisnexis.com.eserv.uum.edu.my/hottopics/lnacademic/?

[7] ACD)Asia Bond Market Development Initiative (2006-2012), http://www.aric.adb.org/initiativetable.php?iid=60&ssid=2&title=Asia%20Cooperation%20Dialogue%20(ACD)%20Asian%20Bond% 20Market%20Development%20Initiative.

[8] “ACD Summit Seeks to Develop Cooperation,” (October 14, 2012), http://news.kuwaittimes.net/2012/10/15/acd-summit-seeks-to-develop-cooperation/.

[9] Sajeev K. Peter, “ACD 2012 Eyes ‘Workable Roadmap’ for Cooperation – Kuwait Has Become Strong Voice for Asia:  Analyst,” Kuwait Times (October 14, 2012), http://news.kuwaittimes.net/2012/10/14/acd-2012-eyes-workable-roadmap-for-cooperation-kuwait-has-become-strong-voice-for-asia-analyst/. 

[10] Communiqué of the First ACD Summit (October 15-17, 2012), http://www.acddialogue.com/upload/1st%20ACD%20Summit/Communique%20of%20the%201st%20ACD%20Summit.pdf.

[11] Veeramalla Anjaiah, “ACD Promises $2Promises $2b Fund for MDGs in Asia,” Jakarta Post (October 17, 2012), http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/10/17/acd-promises-2b-fund-mdgs-asia.html.