Ashgabat, 30 November 2021 (TDI): The 15th Heads of State Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) was held on Sunday. Ashgabat hosted the 15th Summit and President Of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov chaired the summit. Pakistan’s President Arif Alvi held a series of bilateral talks with his counterparts, on the sidelines of the event.
President Alvi arrived in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan on 27 November, Saturday. Turkmenistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Chary Amanov welcomed him at the Ashgabat International Airport. His visit was two days long.
‘Into The Future Together’ was the title of the summit. Turkmenistan hosted all the heads of ECO member states and Secretary-General Ambassador Khusrav Noziri.
President Dr. Arif Alvi arrived on a two day visit to attend the 15th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).
The President was welcomed by Deputy Prime Minister of #Turkmenistan Chary Amanov, at Ashgabat International Airport.#ECOSummit #PakInECO pic.twitter.com/bTUSAxPxUw
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) November 27, 2021
PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS AT THE SUMMIT
Need to Increase Regional Connectivity
President Arif Alvi addressed the summit on Sunday. He touched on a multitude of issues and specifically pressed upon the member states to increase efforts to enhance intra-regional trade.
The President said, that ‘to stay competitive, national and regional economies will have to move towards greater physical and virtual integration.
Highlighting the state of intra-regional trade among ECO member states President Alvi shared that it accounts for only eight percent of the total trade these countries do in the region.
These figures stand despite the regional connectivity between member states and all other elements required for economic integration and rapid economic development. President also talked about how all the member states possess rich resources, enterprising people, geographical contiguity, and also a common culture, heritage, and religion.
He expressed his disappointment over the fact that the ECO region is one of the least integrated regions. This is in terms of trade, investment, finance, infrastructure, labor mobility, and social integration.
The President also stressed empowering digital integration with intellectual connectivity and sharing of ideas. He said that engaging in virtual connectivity is the way forward for the ECO countries.
Talking of the Transit Transport Framework Agreement (TFFA) planned by the ECO, he iterated his support for advancing transport corridors and welcomed the operationalization of the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul road corridor.
Peace In Afghanistan, Imperative for Regional Growth
The President brought due attention to the worrying situation in Afghanistan. He highlighted that since the end of the protracted Afghan conflict which has been spread over 40 years. Now a serious humanitarian crisis looms over Afghanistan along with a deepening liquidity crisis. He stressed the need to release frozen Afghan assets to avert a social and security crisis.
He reiterated that the ECO countries and the Muslim Ummah, in particular, have a shared responsibility to deal with the situation in Afghanistan and help those suffering in the crisis-stricken country.
To ensure success in mega projects like the TAPI gas pipeline, the CASA 1000 electricity grid from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to Afghanistan and Pakistan, and construction of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway line, peace in Afghanistan is a must. The President accordingly reflected so.
Post COVID-19 Challenges
President Alvi talked about Pakistan’s relative success during its first response to the pandemic. This comparison he built upon accounts for some ECO countries suffering excessively and tumbling down to a double-digit economic contraction. He recounted Pakistan’s policy measures including smart lockdowns and generous social protection programs.
Alluding to the rising inflation as a consequence of COVID due to supply chain disruptions, the President briefed about the Pakistan government’s measures to fight the problem. By providing targeted support packages to help support the most vulnerable.
Criticizing the rich world as partly responsible for the rising global inflation he said that the $27 trillion fiscal stimuli injected by the rich countries to revive their economies have badly impacted the developing countries. Since the developing countries have not been able to secure even a small fraction of the $4.3 trillion they needed to recover from the crisis.
Common Development Agenda
The president rallied that the ECO Countries must join other developing countries to promote a common development goal. To return to the path of ‘sustained and sustainable growth.
Referring to Pakistan’s upcoming Chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China, President Alvi laid out Pakistan’s aim to lay out a development agenda. He said that this would include a call to debt restructuring, redistribution of the new SDRs to developing countries, larger concessional financing, mobilization of $100 billion in annual climate finance by the developed countries, ending the billions in illicit financial flows from the developing countries and the return of their stolen assets, etc. Highlighting an approach towards the creation of an equitable and open trading system and a fair international tax regime.
OIC, ECO, and Common Agendas
President Alvi emphasized that Pakistan relied on the ECO Countries also the Organisation of Islamic Countries, member states for support for the Kashmir cause. He said that the fraternal ECO countries should continue supporting the exercise of the right to self-determination by the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmiris are in misery reeling under India’s illegal occupation and facing unspeakable oppression, he added.
He also commended ECO states’ contribution to reversing the rising tide of Islamophobia in Europe, North America, and South Asia. The President then utilized the platform to extend invitations to the member countries to attend the next OIC Foreign Ministers Summit being held in Islamabad. The summit will be held on 23 March 2022.
President Alvi in his address congratulated both the previous presider of the event Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkey, and the current presider Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on the successful convening of the respective summits.
Bilateral Talks
President Alvi held a series of bilateral talks with his counterparts on the sideline of the event.
Pakistan-Turkmenistan Talks
On the first day of his visit, President Alvi held talks with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. He underscored the need for peace and stability in Afghanistan for greater benefits of regional connectivity and prosperity.
The President extended a cordial invitation to President Berdimuhamedov. Both the Presidents agreed to remain in touch on issues of mutual interest.
As was the theme of the event Arif Alvi stressed to undertake concrete measures to improve regional connectivity to enhance bilateral trade and economic relations. The President also reaffirmed support for the timely completion of the TAPI gas pipeline project.
He underscored that road, rail & air linkages are essential to promote trade, tourism, and people-to-people contacts.
President Alvi also conveyed congratulations to Turkmenistan on completing 30 years of independence and 25 years of observing Permanent Neutrality.
President Dr. Arif Alvi held a bilateral meeting with the President of Turkmenistan H.E. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on the sidelines of the 15th Summit of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in Ashgabat today.#ECOSummit #PakInECO #Turkmenistan pic.twitter.com/7GEy6vwfY1
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) November 27, 2021
Pakistan-Tajikistan Talks
President Alvi then met President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan on 27 November 2021.
The two Presidents expressed satisfaction over the state of bilateral affairs between the two nations. They committed to continue efforts to further solidify their relations. President Alvi appreciated the high level of exchange between the two countries. Including the visit of President Rahmon to Pakistan in June 2021, and the visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to Tajikistan in September this year.
Both the Presidents agreed to ensure completion of the CASA -1000 Power Transmission Line Project.
Afghanistan’s situation and its regional implications were also brought under discussion.
A bilateral meeting was held between President Dr. Arif Alvi and President Emomali Rahmon of #Tajikistan on the sideline of the 15th ECO Summit in Ashgabat on 27 November 2021.@ArifAlvi @GovtofPakistan@ForeignOfficePk @MOFA_Tajikistan#ECOSummit #PakInECO #Turkmenistan pic.twitter.com/3BrtZwqD7M
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) November 28, 2021
Pakistan-Iran Talks
President Ebrahim Raisi also met President Alvi on the sidelines of the event.
President Alvi congratulated Raisi on assuming office as President. Talking of Iran-Pakistan relations Alvi highlighted the deep-rooted linguistic, historical, cultural, and religious ties between the two countries.
Referring to the recently convened Iran-Pakistan Joint Trade Committee (JTC) in Tehran President Alvi underscored the importance of regular convening of bilateral mechanisms for trade & economy. He also identified barter trade mechanisms to be utilized for achieving economic success.
*President Dr. Arif Alvi meets the President of Iran in Ashgabat*
President Dr. Arif Alvi met with President of #Iran Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, on the sidelines of 15th Summit of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in Ashgabat today.#ECOSummit #PakInECO pic.twitter.com/2N1YGaMRk1
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) November 28, 2021
Pakistan-Uzbekistan Talks
President Dr. Arif Alvi held a bilateral meeting with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan.
President Alvi focused on fast-tracking trade and connectivity. Adding He said that this could be done soon by operationalizing Uzbekistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (UPTTA). The President also reaffirmed Pakistan’s full support for the Trans-Afghan Railway project.
Both leaders agreed to continue working together closely. President Alvi extended his invitation to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to visit Pakistan at the earliest convenience.
President Dr. Arif Alvi held a bilateral meeting with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of #Uzbekistan on the sidelines of the 15th ECO Summit of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in Ashgabat.#ECOSummit #PakInECO@ArifAlvi @GovtofPakistan @ForeignOfficePk @PakinUzbekistan pic.twitter.com/fvVBj1X91g
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) November 28, 2021
Pakistan-Azerbaijan Talks
President Dr. Arif Alvi also held a meeting with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, at Ashgabat.
Both sides agreed to advance trade and relations of economic cooperation. Further, they agreed to increase cooperation on regional and international platforms.
Pakistan-Turkey Talks
In his meeting with Turk President Erdogan, President Alvi reiterated to sustain the existing bilateral relations between the two countries. The conversation covered bilateral economic, trade, and cooperation between both states.
President Alvi lauded Turkey’s principled stance on the Kashmir issue.
Talking of Islamophobia both sides agreed that a unified concerted approach is needed to uproot this evil.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s Address
Before President Alvi’s speech at the 15th Heads of State Summit of ECO, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi also spoke.
The Foreign Minister of Pakistan addressed the 25th Council of Ministers Meeting of ECO. He also stressed the importance of connectivity and integration. Referring to ECO Vision 2025 he promoted the need of increasing intra-regional trade.
Qureshi called the group of 10 member states of ECO as Pakistan’s most important regional partners. Further, he also highlighted that how ECO has significant potential to rise as a powerful regional entity in Eurasia.
FM @SMQureshiPTI addressed the 2️⃣5️⃣th Council of Ministers Meeting of ECO and spoke on the theme of ‘Into the Future Together’. In his comments, he stressed the importance of connectivity and integration as outlined in ECO Vision 2025 for promoting intra-regional trade. pic.twitter.com/JwavHjFKxn
— Spokesperson 🇵🇰 MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) November 28, 2021
The Economic Cooperation Organisation
Pakistan, Turkey, and Iran came together in 1964 to form the Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD). This entity then evolved to form the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) in 1985.
After the fall of Soviet Russia, a league of Central Asian Republics including the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan joined the organization.
This regional organization has now developed as one of the most important regional blocs in Asia. For over the past three decades all of these countries have continued to come together to strengthen better economic and cooperative relations of regional growth.
