Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn participated in the 17th Ministerial Meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) via video conference on January 21 with all 35 ACD member countries.

Sokhonn’s presence at the meeting was in response to an invitation extended by Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

The theme of the conference was The New Normal for Safe & Healthy Tourism.

The foreign affairs ministry’s press release states: “The meeting discussed critical areas of cooperation and challenges that have been caused by the Covid-19 pandemic while also exploring the near-term prospects for socio-economic recovery.”

The ACD meeting is held annually and the first meeting took place back in June of 2002 in Cha-am district, Phetchaburi province, Thailand.

The ACD’s broad objectives are to promote interdependence among Asian countries; to increase opportunities for cooperation between them; to expand the trade and financial markets within Asia; to enhance Asia’s economic competitiveness in the global market; and to transform the Asian continent into an Asian Community which is capable of interacting with the rest of the world on equal footing to make a positive contribution towards mutual peace and prosperity.