Pakistan to host 13th ECO Summit in Islamabad next week

Published February 25, 2017
Sartaj Aziz gestures as he briefs media representatives at the foreign office in Islamabad. —AFP
Sartaj Aziz gestures as he briefs media representatives at the foreign office in Islamabad. —AFP

The 13th Economic Cooperation Organisation Summit will be held in Islamabad on Wednesday, reported the state-run radio service.

Briefing the media persons in Islamabad on Saturday, Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said, "Most of the member states have already confirmed participation at Heads of State or Heads of Government level."

The summit would be preceded by the two days senior officials' meeting from Sunday and Foreign Ministers' Meeting on Tuesday, the report said.

The theme of ECO Summit is "Connectivity for Regional Prosperity," Sartaj Aziz said.

The summit will deliberate and decide on ways and means to augment cooperation in the areas of connectivity, trade, energy, tourism, investment, industry, economic growth, productivity, social welfare and environment.

ECO Observers and special guests have also been invited to attend the summit, he said.

The Adviser said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is an excellent example of the summit's theme of connectivity and this project will connect with the existing and the planned transit and energy corridors in the ECO region for greater progress.

Sartaj was of the view that importance and strategic role of the country in Muslim countries is still vitally significant. We will continue to participate in the proceedings of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, he added.

He said the summit will adopt ECO Vision 2025 that lays tangible goals for ECO.

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