ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The 13th Summit of 10-member Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) concluded in Islamabad on Wednesday with adoption of the Islamabad Declaration.
The leaders of ECO member States also adopted ECO Vision 2025 delineating a road-map for greater regional cooperation and integration over the next 10 years. They unanimously resolved to build and promote multi-dimensional connectivity.
In his concluding remarks, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that Pakistan being founding member of the ECO was committed to progress through regional integration.
The prime minister said that the ECO Summit provided the opportunity for discussing areas of cooperation among the member Countries for the benefit of their population.
Nawaz Sharif said that the next ECO summit will be held with mutual consensus of the member Countries and will be communicated through the ECO Secretary General.
The prime minister said that the collective political will of ECO leaders is unambiguously reflected in the Islamabad Declaration which underlines the importance of fully exploiting the economic complementarities of member States. He said that the adopted ECO Vision 2025 sets pragmatic and realistic goals along with implementation framework.
Sharif said that the ECO member States would collectively endeavor to build and promote connectivity in multiple domains.
The prime minister said that the 13th ECO Summit has emphasized on the need for regional cooperation in the energy sector focusing on infrastructure development and intra-regional energy corridors.
Nawaz Sharif said that the ECO has taken important steps to promote people to people contacts and regional tourism. He said that our countries remain committed to strengthening cooperation to address common challenges of climate change and food security. He said that the leaders emphasized the importance of linkages between higher education and research institutions as well as developing partnerships in science and technology.
Furthermore, Sharif said that successful holding of the Summit is a manifestation of the desire and commitment of the member States to transform ECO into a vibrant regional block. He said that it’s also a testament to Pakistan’s commitment to act as a harbinger of positive changes and meaningful development in the region.
The prime minister hoped that the ECO member States would continue to work in harmony for the continued prosperity of our peoples.
