‘Fostering Resilient, Integrated Region’

TEHRAN -- Iran’s foreign minister on Tuesday called for efforts to further strengthen the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and expand cooperation among the member states.
Speaking at the 28th meeting of the ECO Council of Ministers in Mashhad, Abbas Araghchi called it an important opportunity to exchange views on the expansion of cooperation and discuss the latest developments.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has been holding the rotating presidency of ECO for the past year and has seriously focused its efforts on advancing the important goals of this large regional organization in order to develop consensus and transcendence among the people of the region and ECO,” he said.
Araghchi expressed hope foreign dignitaries attending the meeting will take note of Iran’s abundant economic, commercial, tourism, agricultural, national and regional potential during their stay.
Touching on the regional developments, he said, “For more than a year, we have been witnessing the unbridled and brutal crimes of the Zionist regime against the people of Gaza and Lebanon in the region and the world.”
“In recent days, after the ceasefire in Lebanon, we have also witnessed the movements of takfiri groups with the support of the United States and the Zionist regime, which requires the vigilance of regional countries and an effective and immediate global response,” he added.
ECO, whose members are Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan, promotes regional trade and economic development.
The ECO region is endowed with appropriate capacities, opportunities and platforms for cooperation in various fields, especially in the energy, trade and transport.
Top officials of the ECO convened in Mashhad Monday for a preparatory session ahead of the ministerial meeting during which experts from member states drafted documents for final agreements.
According to a statement by ECO’s official website, discussions highlighted regional challenges and opportunities, emphasizing the importance of enhanced collaboration among member states to unlock the region’s development potential.
“The communiqué reflects ECO’s commitment to fostering a resilient and integrated region while addressing shared challenges collectively,” it said.
ECO Secretary General Asad M. Khan said the Mashhad Communiqué has a forward-looking approach and emphasizes the expansion of regional cohesion as well as efforts to develop infrastructure connections and greater cohesion among the members.
Sirojiddin Muhriddin, the foreign

minister of Tajikistan, said that over 35% of his country’s trade is now conducted with ECO member states.

He said the existing potential for trade development with the member countries is being updated, given that ECO members are rich in natural resources and possess vast capacities across various sectors.

“Effective and joint use of these capacities can lead to improved welfare and living standards for our people, as well as economic and social development, and consolidating peace and sustainable security in the region,” he said.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said joint cooperation among ECO member states should be strengthened and expanded in various fields.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu highlighted the importance of tourism in ECO. He said there are many cities in Iran, including Mashhad, which can be good destinations for tourists from ECO member countries.

“The development of the tourism industry can help promote the cultural heritage and economic growth of countries,” Nurtleu said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Mohammad Ishaq Dar said strengthening trade relations and communications between the member countries is essential for the prosperity of the ECO region.

“Boosting relations between the member countries will lead to economic growth in the region, and ultimately, with the removal of tariffs between the member countries, it is hoped that free trade between the countries will flourish so that we can experience prosperity, economic prosperity, peace and stability,” he said.

ECO was formed with ambitious goals, he said, adding that despite the good relations among members for economic prosperity, there is a serious need for effective collective cooperation among member countries.

Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Burhanettin Duran said that ECO currently accounts for approximately 4% of global trade, generating $81.9 billion last year.

“This figure indicates that ECO still lags far behind the trade capacities of our region,” he said.

Duran said the organization possesses robust frameworks to strengthen cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, energy, transportation, and connectivity.

Kyrgyzstan’s Tordaqon Sidiqov called for cooperation agreements within ECO to implement railway projects and remove trade barriers. He said expanding railway routes would facilitate economic cooperation and trade, particularly the corridor connecting Turkiye, Iran and the Persian Gulf to the open sea.

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‘Fostering Resilient, Integrated Region’