Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif stressed the need for regional dialogue and cooperation among Asian states to promote multilateralism, assuring that Iran would be a "steadfast partner" in the pursuit of this goal.
Zarif made the statement at the 16th ministerial meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry's website reported.
Asia Cooperation Dialogue is an inter-governmental organization created in 2002 to promote Asian cooperation at the continental level. It has 34 member states whose top ministers attend an annual meeting.
In his speech at the meeting, Zarif said Asia is undergoing crises due to the lack of regional dialogue and the unilateral policies of the US administration.
"Our continent in general and West Asia and the Persian Gulf region in particular are facing crises caused primarily by the lack of inclusive regional dialogue, coupled with shortsighted adventures and the aggressive unilateralism of the current US administration," he said.
To address the dialogue deficiency, the Iranian minister once again proposed the establishment of a Regional Dialogue Forum in the Persian Gulf.
"Every player in our region should understand that we are neighbors forever and that the only way to secure peace and prosperity is through the recognition of a common destiny," he said, emphasizing that inclusive multilateral dialogue is the only way out of the multifarious crises facing the continent.
Zarif also called attention to the "alarming unilateralism" of the current US administration whose consequences will eventually affect all nations.
"The imposition of the will of a single power over all other nations is an existential threat—sooner or later—for everyone."
He called on the participants to align their capabilities to secure multilateralism, warning that otherwise, "a rising and aggressive unilateralist wave can cover the entire world, quickly replacing the rule of law with the rule of the jungle".
Iranian Role
The top diplomat said Iran is determined to promote the lofty values of dialogue and develop practical agendas envisioned in the Asia Cooperation Dialogue’s vision documents and declarations.
Along this line, he said, Iran has utilized all its capacities to advance pan-Asian cooperation and strengthen the Asian community. It has implemented various programs, events and projects to foster mutual understanding among Asian nations and to make the continent a sustainable tourist destination.
"They include organizing a grand festival celebrating Hamadan as the Asian Tourism Capital and conducting cultural activities through the ACD Cultural Center in Tehran," he said.
Zarif also highlighted Iran's geographical position and its well-developed transportation infrastructure as crucial factors that can help connect members of the Asian community to other regions.
He welcomed the bilateral and multilateral transit agreements signed between Asian nations as useful instruments to promote the shared target of connectivity.
Pointing to Iran's hosting of the Asian Clearing Union that provides a system for clearing payments among member countries, he said a similar financial mechanism is to become operational within the D-8 Organization (for cooperation among Iran, Bangladesh, Egypt, Nigeria, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and Turkey) to facilitate financial transactions between member states utilizing national currencies.
The Asian Clearing Union, headquartered in Tehran, Iran, was established on December 9, 1974, at the initiative of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
"We believe that the same arrangement can be adopted by ACD to create institutional connectivity for an enabling business environment and to reduce administrative and regulatory business roadblocks," he said.
The foreign minister pointed out that a “functional, professional and well-represented” secretariat is of vital importance for ACD to play its constructive role and materialize its objectives.
Zarif proposed the establishment of a working group of interested member states to discuss ways and means of strengthening ACD by undertaking reforms.
