The Summit convened under the theme of Regional Economic Cooperation in the Aftermath of COVID-19, was inaugurated by H.E. Imran Khan, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The Summit was attended by Heads of States of all ten member states, the ECO Secretary-General, as well as the ECO Observers, including the President of Turkish Cypriot State, Secretaries General of the Turkic Council, and International Energy Charter.
Other highlighted speeches from the 14th Summit: Iran’s President H.E. Hassan Rouhani delivered a speech that stresses private sector involvement for trade boost. Pakistan Prime Minister H.E. Imran Khan emphasized that his country can be the center-point for economic development and linkage between China-Pakistan Road. In his speech, Afghanistan’s President H.E. Ghani said that peace is critical to the region’s future and that Afghanistan is poised to serve as a roundabout between central, east, south, and west Asia and a platform of international and regional cooperation. Azerbaijani President H.E. Aliyev invited ECO members to join the new transport corridor in South Caucasus. Kazakh President H.E. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev underlined the importance of mutual assistance and support, addressed the development of tourism in the region. President of Kyrgyz Republic H.E. Sadyr Zhaparov called on ECO leaders to jointly tackle economic & social crises caused by the pandemic. Tajik President H.E. Emomali reaffirmed their commitment to establishing the ECO Clean Energy Center. President of Turkmenistan H.E. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov also highlighted the importance of expanding the energy cooperation within ECO. President of Uzbekistan H.E. Shavkat Mirziyoyev mentioned that they put forward important initiatives to develop multilateral partnerships.
The ECO Secretary-General, H.E. Dr. Hadi Soleimanpour also briefed on the ECO’s recent developments in the areas of cooperation, trade & investment, transit-transport, energy, tourism as well as activities and engagements for enhanced economic connectivity in the region. He recommended some special initiatives for stimulating the intra-regional developmental activities that underwent in the aftermath of Covid-19.
At the end of the event, Heads of States extended felicitations to H.E President Berdimuhamedov for Turkmenistan’s assumption of responsibilities as the new ECO Chair. Also, the ceremony was organized in Baku for signing the Charter of the ECO Research Centre. The 15th ECO Summit would be held on November 28, 2021, in Turkmenistan.
