TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki has called for unity among Asian states as the continent’s immediate need.

“Terrorism, drug trafficking, and economic crisis are the common concerns of Asian states and these problems can provide the stimulus for cohesion in Asia,” Mottaki told visiting Malaysian Foreign Minister Rais Yatim on Sunday.
He said Asian states should expand their cooperation inside the groups of D-8 and G15, as part of efforts to pave the way for forming an Asian union.
Rais welcomed the initiative, saying dialogue among Asian leaders and expansion of their cooperation would provide the ground for establishing a union among Asian states.
D-8 consists of Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey. G15 also consists of Jamaica, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Venezuela, Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Zimbabwe, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka.
The G15 focuses on cooperation among developing countries in the areas of investment, trade, and technology. The membership of the G15 has expanded to 18 countries, but the name has remained unchanged