Doha: A number of speakers at the 3rd Asia Cooperation Dialogue Summit (ACD), held under the theme “Sports Diplomacy,” praised the role played by the State of Qatar in bringing peace to the Middle East and other parts of the world.
They highly appreciated Doha’s hosting of this meeting, especially in light of the digital transformation, the recovery phase from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, and multiple global crises, including geopolitical rivalries and competitions, armed conflicts, natural disasters, food insecurity, and the exacerbation of conflicts and armed disputes in the Middle East and other regions.
The speakers called for seizing the opportunity of this summit to enhance the pivotal role played by the ACD in jointly addressing these challenges, especially since the situation in the Middle East is of great concern to all. They urged all parties to the conflict to respect international law, especially international humanitarian law, after the escalation of the conflict and the fall of thousa
nds of victims and inured, and to exercise maximum restraint, reach a ceasefire, and resolve armed conflicts peacefully to end human suffering.
The speakers stressed that “sports diplomacy” is an integral part of the ACD agenda to promote positivity, harmony, and cooperation among the countries of Asia, considering sports an important popular platform that contributes to bridging the gap, building ties, and enhancing mutual understanding through sports. They pointed out Qatar’s successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which proved that sports diplomacy can be a platform that allows facing pressing challenges and promoting Asian values.
They indicated that hosting competitions and tournaments that benefit the younger generation can also be used to end conflicts, spread sportsmanship, and enhance discipline, leadership skills, and ethical principles and concepts among all societies. They noted that the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 has become a symbol of cooperation and solidarity, a model of sports d
iplomacy in promoting peace, a tool for overcoming challenges, a means for constructive dialogue, bringing peoples together, forming alliances, and building bridges of understanding, tolerance, and peace.
The speakers emphasized the significance of unifying the efforts of the Asian countries and working in a strategic manner that allows the ACD to combine efforts with other forums, such as ASEAN, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and other regional groupings to address existing and future challenges and achieve a sustainable economy that reflects the spirit of Asia and the will of the Asian people to live in peace and fraternity.
In order to face the profound international changes and pressing challenges, the speakers suggested that to achieve sustainable development and growth, opportunities, mutual education, coexistence, and collective action must be created to establish an Asian homeland of peace and coexistence, by expressing the Asian values of coexistence and peace and maintaining this peace amidst
a world rife with conflicts.
They also called for respecting multilateralism, continuing to strive to build consensus among all parties concerned, and supporting each other on core issues by conducting dialogues, consultations, and cooperation on local, regional, and international issues. They also called for building partnerships among countries in the region to achieve prosperity, peace, and mutual benefit, as well as committing to economic integration and free trade, and building a multilateral Asian cooperation network to promote development in various Asian countries and facilitate integration and peaceful and harmonious coexistence, while preserving multilateralism, encouraging cultural exchange, and defending Asian values.
The speakers discussed their countries’ experiences and the progress they have made in the fields of energy, agriculture, education, healthcare, technology, financial cooperation, and governance, and how these developments have contributed to improving the quality of life for their
people and expanding the opportunities available to them. They also discussed the development of their countries’ infrastructure and how they were able to raise growth rates and increase the gross domestic product, as well as the measures they have taken to achieve these goals, while preserving the environment, following green economy models, renewable energy sources, and addressing climate change.
They pointed out the importance of sports diplomacy in enhancing cooperation and development in Asia, recalling their countries’ hosting of many major sporting events and activities and how it was a means of preserving values and celebrating traditional sports, and their launching of various sports initiatives, which contribute to building societies, achieving sustainable development goals, and keeping young people away from the circle of terrorism and extremism.
Source: Qatar News Agency
