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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoan has called for better cooperation in the field of energy and more connectivity among member states to strengthen the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).

Speaking at the 13th ECO Summit in the Pakistani capital Islamabad Wednesday, Erdoan said Turkey would support all initiatives aimed at realization of such an objective.

The president said despite the fact the ECO includes more than 6 percent of the world's total population, its share in global trade is a mere 2 percent.

First of all, we have to take steps to increase intra-trade among member states. Activating the ECO trade agreement is an important means for the liberalization of trade among us," Erdogan said.

He said the over 400-million population of the 10-nation bloc has great potential.

The ECO also represents our common values, deep-rooted history and brotherhood. The summit gives us a very important opportunity to look at the general picture of the organizationsee our deficiencies and strengthen our vision accordingly," the president said.

He also called for reforms in the ECO, especially in terms of strengthening the member states' human resources, and a mechanism for ownership of projects and budgets.

Erdogan also highlighted the need for greater cooperation in environmental, agricultural and tourism sectors.

He said Turkey has carried out many large-scale transportation projects such as Istanbul's Marmaray, Eurasia Tunnel, Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, Osman Gazi Bridge, and high-speed rail lines, which have strengthened the transportation capacity of not only Turkey but also ECO members.

He said member states need to work hand-in-hand to overcome regional problems.

- Iran's Rouhani backs ECO

In his speech, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the ECO can play a vital role in building the economic future of the region, but he too called for restructuring of the organization.

"Connectivity will help development and prosperity in the region," Rouhani said.

Mustafa Akinci, president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus which has an observer status in the bloc, said his country wants to contribute more effectively to the organization's work. He asked the ECO for its support in tourism and education sectors.

"We want to find a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus issue," Akinci added.

- Vision 2025

The ECO's 13th summit concluded after the leaders adopted the Islamabad Declaration and Vision 2025, which called for greater regional cooperation and integration over the next decade.

Speaking later at a press conference, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the ECO Vision-2025 sets pragmatic and realistic goals along with listing an implementation framework.

Sharif said the 13th summit emphasizes on the need for regional cooperation in the energy field, focus on infrastructure development and intra-regional energy corridors.

ECO has taken important steps to promote connectivity and regional trade and tourism, Sharif added.

China's Executive Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui also joined the summit and put emphasis on connectivity.

Strict security measures were taken in Islamabad for the summit. All main roads leading to the summit venue had been closed off to traffic. A public holiday was also declared in the capital due to the summit.

The ECO was founded by Turkey, Iran and Pakistan in 1985. In 1992, the organization expanded to include seven new members, including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoan has vowed to increase trade between Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) countries by upgrading air, land and sea transport. "My country is ready for any innovation that may increase the trade volume because we are giving big importance to the 2023 targets of Turkey," Erdoan said during the 13th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit that opened on Wednesday in the Pakistani capital Islamabad. Erdoan also called on ECO countries to take bigger steps, adding that political approaches are closely associated with investments.Erdoan arrives in Pakistan to attend economic summit "I also believe that it is important to touch on the problems that Azerbaijani is facing due to the Armenian occupation in Nagorno-Karabakh," Erdoan said. "The Armenia occupation continues despite 20 years of diplomatic efforts. We should propose this issue for the agenda more often and take determined steps as the Islamic Cooperation Organization," he said. Erdoan also mentioned the significance of ECO member countries' role in stopping bloodshed, particularly in Syria, Iraq and Yemen Leaders from Turkey, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are attending the summit.Erdoan welcomed to Pakistan with official ceremony The ECO was established in 1985 by Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan. It succeeded the Regional Cooperation for Development, which was founded in 1964 to promote cooperation among member states. In 1992, the organization welcomed seven new members: Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Afghanistan. The Treaty of Izmir, signed in 1977 and subsequently amended in 1996, was the group's legal foundation. Following Erdogan's arrival, the ECO Council of Ministers issued a statement on the adoption of the ECO Vision 2025, which will serve as a guideline for the organization's medium-term strategy.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoan arrived in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Tuesday evening to attend the 13th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit, state-run Pakistan Television said.The live broadcast showed Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal receive Erdoan at the Noor Khan air base following a 21-gun salute. First Lady Emine Erdoan also accompanied the president. The summit will open Wednesday. Erdoan was also presented with a guard of honor by a contingent from the Pakistani armed forces. He is due to meet heads of states and representatives from ECO member states on the sidelines of the summit.He later met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan separately.Leaders from Turkey, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are attending the summit, Foreign Ministry spokesman Nafees Zakaria told Anadolu Agency. The ECO was established in 1985 by Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan. It succeeded the Regional Cooperation for Development, which was founded in 1964 to promote cooperation among member states. In 1992, the organization had welcomed seven new members: Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Afghanistan. The Treaty of Izmir, signed in 1977 and subsequently amended in 1996, was the group's legal foundation. Following Erdogan's arrival, the ECO Council of Ministers issued a statement on the adoption of ECO Vision 2025, which will serve as a guideline for the organization's medium-term strategy.

Relations between Pakistan and Turkey are excellent" and will deepen with a coming free-trade agreement (FTA) a senior Pakistani official said on Tuesday. A long-pending FTA between the two nations is in the final stages, Sartaj Aziz told Anadolu Agency on the sidelines of a foreign ministers' meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in Islamabad. Trade volume between the two countries stood at around $610 million in 2016, with exports from Turkey recorded at $346 million and imports from Pakistan at $263 million, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute. Commenting on claims ECO cooperation had not reached optimal levels, Aziz said a lack of resources to build infrastructure was being discussed. According to Aziz, China's One Belt, One Road initiative will help the organization achieve its objectives. The ECO was founded by Turkey, Iran and Pakistan in 1985. In 1992, the organization expanded to include seven new members, namely Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Speaking at the ECO foreign ministers' meeting earlier on Tuesday, Aziz said a lack of regional connectivity was a major impediment to economic cooperation. He said joint efforts were needed to transform the ECO into a formidable economic bloc through full exploitation of its resources. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to arrive to Islamabad late on Tuesday to attend the 13th summit of the 10 ECO countries on Wednesday.

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Erdoan in Pakistan urges closer ties among ECO states - Yeni afak English