DOHA, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Officials representing Saudi Arabia and Bahrain on Wednesday took part in the senior officials' meetings of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) in the Qatari capital Doha.

The 16th edition of the ACD kicked off in Doha, where representatives from 34 countries, including Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, attended with the objective of pushing forward mechanisms of joint action and buttressing Asian partnerships.

The event was inaugurated by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who delivered an inaugural speech in which he urged building of sound relations among countries based on respect for international legitimacy.

"Disputes must be solved through peaceful means in a way guaranteeing justice, enhancing mutual confidence and achieving genuine partnerships through more effective mechanisms in the light of the Asian cooperation vision 2030," said the Qatari foreign minister.

This is the first time that Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, which boycott Qatar along with Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, attended meetings in Doha since the Gulf crisis broke out in June 2017.