KUN0077 4 GEN 0291 FRANCE /AFP -GUD7 ECO-INDIA-AFGHANISTAN-CONFERENCE India hosts regional Econ. Coop. Conference on Afghanistan NEW DELHI, Nov 6 (KUNA) -- India will host the second Regional Economic Cooperation Conference (RECC) on Afghanistan at Delhi November 18-19 to strengthen partnership for the stability, prosperity and security of the land-locked and war-affected country. "The RECC was envisaged to bring together all the important players in the post-war reconstruction of Afghanistan on to a single platform," Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Navtej Sarna told reporters at Delhi Monday. Nineteen countries, including G8 member nations, Central Asian countries, China, Pakistan and Iran will participate in RECC, he said. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), European Commission, Asian Development Bank, World Bank and the International Monetary Fund will also take part in the conference, he added. The US will be represented by Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Richard Boucher and Pakistan by Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki will also be present at the meet, the spokesperson said. A business conclave, organised jointly by the three Indian business chambers, will take place in association with the Afghanistan Investment Support Agency (AISA) during the same time, he said. Regional cooperation for the security of Afghanistan and for the prosperity of the entire region will be the focus of the conference, the spokesperson said, adding there could be discussions on the proposed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline at the conference. (end) dr.ajs KUNA 061844 Nov 06NNNN