LOC19:00
16:00 GMT
ISLAMABAD, Feb 28 (KUNA) -- The meeting of Council of Foreign Ministers of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) held in Islamabad on Tuesday approved the agenda for Islamabad Deceleration to be adopted in the 13th ECO Summit being held on Wednesday.
According to Pakistan Foreign Office, the Council approved the ECO Vision 2025 and text of Islamabad Declaration, recommended by the senior officials of the member states during their two-day deliberations.
Islamabad Declaration 2017 contains the salient points of cooperation among the members of ECO in connectivity, trade, transport and energy fields.
Addressing the meeting after assuming Chairmanship of the 22nd Council of Ministers Meeting, Pakistani Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz called for joint efforts to transform ECO into a formidable economic block through full exploitation of its human and material resources. He also identified the priority areas for ECO to help realize the dream of transforming the organization into a strong economic block.
The Adviser pointed out that the region is faced with multiple challenges including terrorism, drug trafficking and other trans regional organized crimes. He said concerted efforts are required to meet the challenges and take forward the development agenda of the region.
Highlighting the economic progress made by the country over the last four years, the adviser said all the economic indicators are positive, which has raised the confidence of investors. He said the country is also pursuing a comprehensive anti-terrorism policy, adding "we are committed to provide smooth and safe transit for trade of goods".
Secretary General of ECO Halil Ibrahim in his address to the meeting stressed the need for sustained efforts and exploring all possibilities for harnessing the full potential of the Organization for development and prosperity.
He said population of ECO region has reached 471 million and its GDP has crossed one trillion dollars. He pointed out that ECO intra-regional trade has increased to 8.3 percent in 2016 as compared to 5.3 percent in 2000. National Chambers of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Turkey are members of ECO. (end)
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