Third ACD successful: FM

The issues like energy security, poverty alleviation and road link were discussed prominently at the meeting at Qingdao, where member states agreed to initiate an Asian fund of around $ 50 billion to implement various pro-people projects.

"It's an organisation with human face to do some welfare works for the common people in Asia and the outcome is encouraging," Khan told reporters at Zia International Airport on return from the ACD meet.

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Prime Minister's Principal Secretary. Kamal Siddiqui was a member of the Bangladesh delegation.

The meeting discussed the root causes of poverty and held deliberations on the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) of Bangladesh.

It also discussed the common problems facing the Asian countries and decided that the bilateral issues are resolved bilaterally. The ACD can provide a way to help resolve the bilateral issues as well.

Khan welcomed the talks between India and Pakistan on the sidelines of the ACD meeting at Qingdao and hoped that the two nuclear neighbours would move forward in resolving their problems.

The foreign minister said the ACD meeting also focussed on global terrorism and agreed to fight it jointly. "It's a menace that kills innocent people everyday and we addressed it as a global issue," he said.

The meeting adopted two documents - Declaration on Asia Cooperation Hand-in-Hand for a better Asia and Qingdao Initiative on Energy Cooperation.

The ACD endorsed three new members -- Mongolia, Iran and UAE -- making it a 25-member organisation. More Asian countries are showing keen interest to become its members, Khan said.

Russian Federation, Australia and New Zealand also expressed their willingness to join the ACD.

It was decided that Pakistan would host the next ACD Foreign Ministers meeting in 2005 while Qatar in 2006.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Chai Xi and ROK Ambassador Kyu-Hyung Lee were present at the airport.