ECO declaration reiterates resolve for regional integration

ISLAMABAD: Economic Cooperation Organization member states on Wednesday reiterated their political will and strong commitment for economic development, common prosperity, regional integration and peace and stability in the region.

A declaration issued after the 13th ECO Summit held in Islamabad on Wednesday reaffirmed commitment to the principles and objectives enshrined in the Treaty of Izmir.

All ten member states including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and the host Pakistan are participating in the Summit. China has sent a special representative to attend the ECO summit.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbay Sharipovitch Jeenbekov and Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Ulugbak Rozukulov were present in the summit.

The declaration attached great importance to the cooperation frameworks developed under the different agreements concluded between the Member States and the momentum created in different fields of cooperation.

The member states also reassured their commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including the respect for political independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, development of friendly relations among nations and settlement of disputes.

It also welcomed further enlargement and outreach of the organization through full membership to the interested states. The declaration approached connectivity as a dynamic concept that encompasses multiple dimensions including cyber, energy, rail, road, and ports and shipping.

It reiterated commitment to promote trade as an instrument of enhanced economic cooperation and revitalization in the Region. It underlined the importance of the Post 2015 Development Agenda and the role that can be played by the ECO Member States.

It recognized the importance of moderation as an approach to counter all forms of extremism and promote dialogue, mutual respect, understanding and social harmony to achieve sustainable and inclusive development, equitable growth, stability and prosperity in the ECO region.

Acknowledging the importance of Afghanistan for ECO Region, it reiterated continued support to the national, regional and global efforts for reconstruction and sustainable development as well as peace and security in Afghanistan.

It welcomed China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a far-reaching initiative that would act as catalyst for the development of the entire region.