Under the title of Sports Diplomacy, which was chosen to express our firm belief that promoting and cooperating on sports is closely aligned with the vison of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue 2030. And in the belief in the importance of sports for the health of individuals and societies and its role in promoting peace, spreading the values of tolerance and mutual respect, and dispelling stereotypes and preconceptions, we look forward to translating this title into a tangible reality that will reflect positively on our peoples and countries.

Ladies and gentlemen, we believe in the importance of intensifying efforts to contain escalation, tension and bloodshed by resorting to rational dialogue, the rules of international law, the United Nations Charter and international legitimacy resolutions. Respecting the sovereignty of states, the integrity of their territories and non-interference in their internal affairs in a way that guarantees all countries and peoples the right to live in security, peace and dignity.

This summit is being held amidst challenges and tensions facing the international community, which has marginalized many of its institutions, making it appear as if it is devoid of international law and its values due to chronic violations and unspoken crimes. The world is still witnessing a dangerous escalation in the war waged by the Israeli occupation authorities against our Palestinian brothers in the Gaza Strip and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories. What they are exposed to is the targeting of defenseless civilians with continuous bombing that has led to the killing of tens of thousands of innocent victims, children, women and men. Their number has exceeded forty-one thousand martyrs, and the targeting of the headquarters of international organizations and the destruction of residential, health and educational infrastructure and all life facilities.

It has become crystal clear that what is happening is genocide in addition to transforming the Gaza Strip into an area unfit for human habitation in preparation for displacement. On this occasion, we renew our rejection and condemnation of the air strikes and escalating military operations launched by the Israeli occupation forces against the sisterly Lebanese Republic recently, which have claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians who are not guilty and displaced more than a million citizens. Israel is exploiting the international wheel to implement the occupation plans to expand settlements in the West Bank in preparation for annexing it or at least parts of it. Its rulers also believe that the opportunity is available to implement its plans in Lebanon, and the institutions of the international community stand helpless in the face of the dangerous escalation of the Israeli aggression on Lebanon, which is expanding day after day in flagrant violation of all international norms and laws.

We have previously warned of the consequences of not holding Israel accountable for the crimes against humanity it has committed and for its refusal to implement the legitimate international resolutions related to ending the occupation and resolving the Palestinian issue in a just manner. This has made it disregard international law and has given its rulers in Palestine and Lebanon a free hand. We call for serious work to stop the firing and attacks carried out by the Israeli occupation on Lebanese territory. Security will not be achieved without achieving just peace, and this will not be achieved in our region except by establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital on the borders of June 4, 1967, in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative. The State of Qatar will continue to support the rights of the Palestinians and support their people to obtain all their legitimate rights. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Asian continent occupies an important position in terms of geopolitics and economy, in addition to its significant influence on global trade as the largest continent containing a strategic energy reserve and hosting global markets and stock exchanges that are the largest of their kind in the world, in addition to its enormous human resources. In order to achieve the maximum benefit from the comparative advantages of each country, we must work to strengthen the interconnectedness between our countries in various fields by identifying common strengths, exploring opportunities and developing proposals aimed at developing our societies.

In conclusion, I would like to thank the General Secretariat for its efforts to reach a final version of the Doha Declaration to be adopted at this summit, and for following up on the implementation of the decisions of the previous dialogue and the good preparation for this summit, which we hope will achieve our goals and aspirations. We also wish the friendly Kingdom of Thailand all the best during its presidency of the dialogue next year. I welcome you again to Doha, and may God’s peace, mercy and blessings be upon you.