The Korean government, as the Chair of Asia Cooperation Dialogue(ACD) of 2007-2008, hosted the 2nd ACD High-Level Study Group from April 17 to 18 in Seoul. Representatives of governments and academic circles of the 29 ACD member countries from Asia and the Middle East participated in this meeting to discuss 1)the Desirability of an ACD Secretariat, 2)Funding issues, 3)Track II Participation as well as 4)Cultural dialogue and Membership issues.

During the meeting, the participants acknowledged the need for a permanent secretariat in the long run as the ACD evolves and agreed to keep the issue open for the future discussion. The member countries also noted the importance of collective efforts to fund the ACD cooperation projects through measures such as the establishment of a centralized funding mechanism, which lies contingent on the consensus of the member countries to establish a permanent secretariat which will run the fund. Member countries have further agreed to undertake a feasibility study on the funding modalities for the cooperation projects on a voluntary basis.

For Track II participation in association with the ACD Cooperation Projects, they came to an agreement that the scope of participation and activities of track II will be decided by prime and co-prime movers. In the case of independent track II participation in the ACD, member countries reaffirmed that they first focus on revitalizing and strengthening the existing ACD Think Tanks Network.

Member countries reaffirmed the necessity and importance of cultural dialogue in Asia and agreed to consider including it into one of the ACD cooperation projects as well as addressing it as one of the possible main topics for the ACD Think Tanks Network meetings.

The 2nd ACD High-Level Study Group Meeting served to enhance Korea’s standing within the ACD, a pan-Asian regional cooperation mechanism and also showed Korea’s willingness to actively contribute to the international community.