Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD)

The Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) is a continental framework established to promote intergovernmental cooperation, dialogue, and partnership among Asian countries. Conceived as a platform for pan-Asian integration, it seeks to consolidate Asia’s collective potential by bridging subregional groupings such as ASEAN, SAARC, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The ACD aims to strengthen Asia’s political, economic, and cultural identity through collaboration on common challenges and opportunities in the 21st century.

Historical Background

The idea of an Asia-wide dialogue forum emerged in the late 1990s amid growing recognition that the continent’s rapid economic rise required a unified framework for consultation and cooperation. The initiative was spearheaded by Thailand, which proposed a pan-Asian mechanism to complement existing regional organisations.
The Asia Cooperation Dialogue was formally launched on 18–19 June 2002 in Cha-Am, Thailand, with participation from 18 founding members, including Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, and Thailand.
Over time, the membership expanded significantly, and by 2025, the ACD comprised 35 member states, covering virtually every region of Asia — from the Middle East and Central Asia to East, South, and Southeast Asia.

Objectives and Vision

The ACD’s primary mission is to serve as a forum for Asian countries to exchange views, build mutual understanding, and cooperate on development priorities. It functions as a bridge to promote dialogue across existing regional and subregional institutions, fostering an inclusive Asian community.
The major objectives of the ACD include:

• Promoting Asian unity and identity through dialogue and cooperation.
• Enhancing economic growth and interconnectivity among member states.
• Fostering sustainable development through shared knowledge and resources.
• Bridging subregional groupings to avoid fragmentation and overlap.
• Encouraging people-to-people exchanges and cultural understanding across Asia.

The long-term vision of the ACD, as outlined in the “ACD Vision 2030”, is to transform Asia into a “Community of Asian Nations” that is cohesive, self-reliant, and globally influential.

Institutional Framework and Structure

The ACD operates through a flexible and informal structure designed to promote voluntary cooperation. The key institutional components are:

• Chairmanship: Rotates annually among member states. The chair country hosts the Ministerial Meeting and oversees coordination for the year.
• Ministerial Meetings: The highest decision-making body, comprising foreign ministers of member states.
• Summit Meetings: Introduced in 2014 as the ACD Summit, these are attended by heads of state or government to set broad strategic directions.
• Senior Officials’ Meetings (SOM): Support ministerial sessions and coordinate follow-up actions on approved projects.
• Secretariat: Established in Kuwait City, Kuwait, in 2013, the ACD Secretariat serves as the permanent administrative body responsible for coordination and implementation.

Each member state may take the lead in specific areas of cooperation, forming a network of “Prime Movers” for sectoral initiatives such as energy, education, food security, and tourism.

Areas of Cooperation

The Asia Cooperation Dialogue encompasses a wide range of cooperation sectors, reflecting the continent’s diversity and development priorities. These include:

• Energy Security: Promoting sustainable energy development, renewable resources, and regional power connectivity.
• Trade and Investment: Encouraging intra-Asian trade liberalisation and economic integration.
• Tourism Promotion: Enhancing cross-border tourism through shared marketing and infrastructure development.
• Science, Technology, and Innovation: Fostering collaboration in research, digitalisation, and emerging technologies.
• Education and Human Resource Development: Facilitating student exchange programmes and academic collaboration.
• Food, Water, and Environmental Security: Addressing challenges related to climate change, resource scarcity, and sustainability.
• Transport Connectivity: Developing trans-Asian corridors linking land, sea, and air routes for trade and mobility.
• Public Health and Social Development: Coordinating responses to pandemics, public health threats, and disaster management.

These initiatives are often aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasising inclusivity and sustainability in Asia’s growth model.

Key Developments and Milestones

• 2002: Inaugural Ministerial Meeting held in Cha-Am, Thailand, launching the ACD as a pan-Asian dialogue platform.
• 2006: ACD membership grew to 30 countries, reflecting expanding regional interest.
• 2012: The 10th ACD Ministerial Meeting in Kuwait adopted the “Kuwait Declaration”, affirming the goal of building an Asian Community.
• 2014: The 1st ACD Summit in Kuwait marked a milestone in institutionalising the dialogue at the highest level of leadership.
• 2016: The Bangkok Declaration adopted during the 2nd ACD Summit outlined a Roadmap for ACD Vision 2030.
• 2021: Virtual meetings were convened to coordinate pandemic recovery measures and promote cooperation in digital transformation and health resilience.

India’s Role in the ACD

As one of the founding members, India plays a vital role in shaping the ACD’s agenda. India’s involvement aligns with its broader foreign policy objectives of “Act East” and “Think West”, which aim to deepen engagement with both Asian subregions.
India leads and participates actively in several priority areas, such as:

• Science, Technology, and Innovation – promoting research and digital cooperation.
• Energy Security – sharing renewable energy expertise and solar initiatives.
• Education and Skill Development – fostering regional academic linkages through scholarships and knowledge exchange.

Through the ACD, India advocates for inclusive growth, regional connectivity, and climate cooperation, underscoring Asia’s role as an integrated global partner.

Challenges and Limitations

While the ACD provides a broad framework for Asian unity, it faces certain challenges that have limited its effectiveness:

• Lack of institutional depth: The ACD’s voluntary nature and absence of binding commitments slow progress.
• Overlapping memberships: Many member countries belong to other regional organisations with similar agendas.
• Diverse economic and political systems: Varied priorities across Asia complicate consensus-building.
• Funding constraints: Limited financial and logistical support for ACD projects.
• Limited visibility: The ACD remains less prominent compared to other regional organisations like ASEAN or the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

Efforts are ongoing to strengthen institutional mechanisms, enhance cooperation funding, and promote coordination among regional bodies.

Future Prospects

The ACD Vision 2030 envisions Asia as a cohesive, prosperous, and sustainable continent. Future initiatives focus on:

• Establishing a Pan-Asian Connectivity Network integrating transport, digital, and energy links.
• Promoting green and digital economies for sustainable growth.
• Expanding public–private partnerships in innovation and infrastructure.
• Enhancing South–South cooperation within Asia for equitable development.
• Strengthening cultural diplomacy and educational exchanges to foster a shared Asian identity.