Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called for convergence of the Asian countries at the ninth ministerial meeting of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), which kicked off in Tehran on Monday.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks during the 9th Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) in Tehran, capital of Iran, Nov. 8, 2010. Ahmadinejad called for convergence of the Asian countries during the ACD ministerial meeting in Tehran on Monday. [Ahmad Halabisaz/Xinhua]

Ahmadinejad said at the opening ceremony that Asia is in need of convergence in order to implement its determining responsibility in the world which is urgently in need of a change in terms of order and conduct.

The ACD ministerial meeting, themed "Towards Asian Convergence and Unification: Promotion of Progress, Peace and Justice," will last two days.

Ahmadinejad said that a mechanism to help countries reach convergence should be developed in Asia, and a convergent Asia, under any title or any name, should actively participate in resolving the global issues.

He said the existing world order is lacking the efficiency to resolve world issues and to create development, peace and justice.

"We are in need of a new world order which guarantees the nations' rights, to recognize the dignity of human being and to promise lasting peace and security," he said.

He added that Asia is the cradle of great civilizations and its culture is full of kindness, devotion, passion and friendship.

With such a pretext it is the responsibility of the Asian countries to actively restructure the global order, he stressed.