APC President Majid Rashed has met with OCA counterpart Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah in Kuwait to discuss forging closer working ties between the two organisations ©APC

Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) President Majid Rashed has met with Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) counterpart Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah in Kuwait to discuss forging closer working ties between the two organisations.

One of the main topics for discussion was the upcoming Asian Games and Asian Para Games, which will both be held in Indonesia later this year.

While the Asian Games is well established and has been a regular event on the sporting calendar since 1951, the Asian Para Games are still in their infancy and the 2018 edition in Jakarta will only be the third organised under the umbrella of the APC.

Both parties talked about strengthening the relationship between the two organisations and co-operating on the preparations and delivery of future Games.

Further discussions were held about strategies to support athletes both with and without impairments across Asia and how to capitalise on the next three Olympic and Paralympic Games taking place in the region - Pyeongchang 2018, Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022.

"His Excellency Sheikh Ahmad made us very welcome in Kuwait," Rashed said.

"Whilst our athletes compete in separate Games and we are at different stages of development as organisations, we share the same goals to make our region strong in both Olympic and Paralympic sport.

"The meeting was very productive and we welcome Sheikh Ahmad's positive feedback and offer of support for the APC."

Among the main topics of discussion was the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang ©Getty Images
Among the main topics of discussion was the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang ©Getty Images

Rashed and the APC chief executive Tarek Souei are now planning to meet with OCA director general Husain Al-Musallam to continue discussions and agree on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The MoU will include more details about the cooperation and relationship between both organisations in the future.

The 2018 Asian Para Games are due to take place from October 6 to 13.

Around 4,000 athletes from 43 countries are expected to compete. 

They will do so across the sports of archery, athletics, badminton, boccia, bowling, cycling, goalball, judo, lawn bowls, powerlifting, shooting, swimming, table tennis, volleyball, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing and wheelchair tennis.

The programme is made up of 13 Paralympic and four non-Paralympic sports. 

The Games will take place in the same venues as the 2018 Asian Games, which are scheduled to be held in Jakarta and Palembang from August 18 to September 2.

The APC signed the Host City Contract with the Indonesia 2018 Asian Para Games Organising Committee at a ceremony in February 2016.