KATHMANDU, March 10 -- Nepal has officially become a member of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), a senior official told Xinhua on Thursday.

The 14th Ministerial Meeting of Asia Cooperation Dialogue being held in Bangkok, Thailand unanimously endorsed Nepal as the 34th member of Asia Cooperation Dialogue Wednesday morning, said Bharat Kumar Regmi, a senior official at the Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa thanked the ACD for accepting Nepal as a new member.

While delivering a speech at the meeting, Thapa reiterated full commitment to the principles, values and objectives of the ACD. He also assured that Nepal will continue to engage in its activities and programs with sincerity and dedication. The ACD currently has 34 members.

The regional forum, established in June 2002, is the only official dialog and cooperation mechanism in Asia at a continental level.

The Nepalese government has expressed hope that the country's association with the ACD will help Nepal expand relations in the international arena, a spokesman at the Nepalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Xinhua.

Nepal's engagement with the ACD will help further enhance its cooperation with ACD member states on various fields such as economy, tourism, commerce, foreign direct investment and foreign employment among others, the spokesman added.