The council adopted the Mashhad Communiqué, a pivotal outcome document that sets strategic directions for ECO’s activities, reinforcing cooperation among member states.
ECO Secretary General Dr. 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.
He expressed hope that member states will be able to create greater cohesion through the development of economic activities.
He also thanked the Islamic Republic of Iran for its excellent hosting of the meeting and the arrangements it made in holding it.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu highlighted the importance of tourism in ECO, saying member countries should pay attention to this field so that they can become tourist destinations in the world with the cooperation of neighboring countries.
The development of the tourism industry can help promote the cultural heritage and economic growth of countries, he noted. Nurtleu also pointed out that there are many cities in Iran, including Mashhad, which can be good destinations for tourists from ECO member countries.
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, adding that 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.
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.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov also said joint cooperation among ECO member states should be strengthened and expanded in various fields.
According to Bayramov, the meeting served as a good opportunity to confront the challenges facing the member states. He expressed hope that the member states can increase the efficiency of the organization even more than before.
Addressing the conference, Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Burhanettin Duran said that ECO currently accounts for approximately 4% of global trade, generating $81.9 billion last year.
However, he emphasized that ECO remains significantly behind the trade realities and potential of the member states. "This figure indicates that ECO still lags far behind the trade capacities of our region."
He noted that the organization possesses robust frameworks to strengthen cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, energy, transportation, and connectivity.
Sirojiddin Muhriddin, the foreign minister of Tajikistan, also said that over 35% of Tajikistan's foreign trade is now conducted with ECO member states.
He pointed out that the existing potential for trade development with these 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.
Addressing the summit, Tordaqon Sidiqov, the representative from Kyrgyzstan, called for cooperation agreements within ECO to implement railway projects and remove trade barriers.
He noted that expanding railway routes would facilitate economic cooperation and trade, particularly in the corridor connecting Turkiye to Iran and the Persian Gulf to the open sea.
“Access to extraterritorial markets and the removal of financial and trade barriers can be a significant factor for the sustainable development of ECO member states,” Sidiqov said.
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