---
title: 'D-8 Secretary-General Stresses Diplomacy, Sustainability at Eurasian Summit in Istanbul'
url: 'https://thediplomaticinsight.com/d-8-secretary-general-stresses-diplomacy-sustainability-at-eurasian-summit/'
author: 'Farkhund Yousafzai'
date: '2026-05-13T09:13:22+05:00'
categories:
  - 'Diplomatic News'
tags:
  - 'D-8'
  - 'Diplomacy'
  - 'Economic'
  - 'Istanbul'
---

# D-8 Secretary-General Stresses Diplomacy, Sustainability at Eurasian Summit in Istanbul

**Istanbul (TDI):** Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Secretary-General of the Developing-8 (D-8) Organization for Economic Cooperation, addressed the opening session of the 29th Eurasian Economic Summit held in Istanbul, emphasizing the critical importance of diplomacy and sustainability in addressing global challenges.

The summit, organized by the Marmara Group Foundation from 11–13 May, brings together political leaders, diplomats, policymakers, academics, business figures, and civil society representatives. This year’s theme, “Global Responsibility,” focuses on global peace as well as environmental challenges, including water scarcity and ecological degradation.

Messages from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Nobel Laureate Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar were also read during the opening session. The program included remarks from senior international figures and representatives of various regional and global organizations, including the D-8 Secretary-General.

![D-8](https://thediplomaticinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2-130-300x221.jpg)

In his speech, Ambassador Mahmood praised the Marmara Group Foundation and its president Dr. Akkan Suver for establishing the Eurasian Economic Summit as a key platform for dialogue, cooperation, and intellectual engagement across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.

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He noted that the summit is being held at a time of rising geopolitical and geo-economic tensions, including armed conflicts, weakening multilateral systems, global economic uncertainty, growing protectionism, and disruptions in trade and supply chains. He also highlighted climate change, food insecurity, and water scarcity as major global concerns.

The Secretary-General stressed that these interconnected challenges require stronger international cooperation, sustained peace, active diplomacy, regional solidarity, and sustainable development partnerships.

He further underlined the relevance of the D-8’s founding principles, peace, dialogue, cooperation, justice, equality, and democracy, in addressing today’s global issues. He said the organization, which represents around 1.2 billion people and a combined GDP of over $5 trillion, is actively promoting collaboration in areas such as trade, investment, agriculture, energy, digital transformation, green transition, and innovation-led growth.

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Ambassador Mahmood outlined three key priorities aligned with the summit’s theme: promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, addressing climate change and ensuring water and environmental security, and strengthening innovation, connectivity, and economic cooperation, particularly through South-South partnerships.

![D-8](https://thediplomaticinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/4-68-224x300.jpg)

 

On the sidelines of the summit, he also held discussions with several participants on regional and global developments and ways to enhance cooperation among Global South countries.

The three-day event features sessions on global peace, energy, climate change, water security, economic transformation, and the role of democracy and women in shaping the future of peace.