Asian nations vow enhanced economic cooperation

Participants at an Asian nations meeting held in Kuwait on Tuesday highlighted economic cooperation and integration as the sovereign debt crisis crippled economic growth in European countries. Foreign ministers from 31 Asian nations said in a statement after the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) that economy is the key to regional peace and prosperity and nations should seek cooperation to counter impacts of the ongoing European debt crisis. According to the statement, Asian nations also vowed to enhance cooperation in finance, energy, culture, science and technology, education for a better future of Asia. Foreign ministers at the two-day event also discussed topics including climate change, food-safety, anti-poverty, environment protection, energy, cultural cooperation. Kuwait's Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah also proposed to host an Asian leaders summit in 2012 in Kuwait. The ACD was created in 2002 as an annual forum for Asian countries to promote cooperation and coordination at a continental level. The next ACD ministerial meeting would be held in Tajikistan in 2012.