Economic Cooperation Organization member states have reiterated their political will and strong commitment for economic development, common prosperity, regional integration and peace and stability in the ECO Region. A declaration issued after the 13th ECO Summit held in Islamabad on Wednesday reaffirmed commitment to the principles and objectives enshrined in the Treaty of Izmir. It also attached great importance to the cooperation frameworks developed under the different agreements concluded between the Member States and the momentum created in different fields of cooperation.The member states also reassured their commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including the respect for political independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, development of friendly relations among nations, and pacific settlement of disputes. It also welcomed further enlargement and outreach of the Organization through full membership to the interested states. The declaration approached connectivity as a dynamic concept that encompasses multiple dimensions including cyber, energy, rail, road, and ports and shipping. It reiterated commitment to promote intra-ECO trade as an instrument of enhanced economic cooperation and revitalization in the Region. It underlined the importance of the Post 2015 Development Agenda and the role that can be played by the ECO Member States.It recognized the importance of moderation as an approach to counter all forms of extremism and promote dialog, mutual respect, understanding and social harmony, to achieve sustainable and inclusive development, equitable growth, stability and prosperity in the ECO Region. Acknowledging the importance of Afghanistan for ECO Region, it reiterated continued support to the national, regional and global efforts for reconstruction and sustainable development as well as peace and security in Afghanistan. It welcomed China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a far-reaching initiative that would act as catalyst for the development of the entire region. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has called for intensified collaboration to exploit enormous potential of ECO to turn the region into a citadel of peace, progress and prosperity. Addressing the 13th ECO Summit 2017 in Islamabad on Wednesday after assuming its chairmanship, he said Islamabad Declaration would reflect the consensus and resolve of ECO member states to collectively take on the contemporary economic challenges. The desire for making ECO a success is not enough. It has to be accompanied by a full realisation of the problems that retarded its progress and the way these can be resolved. The summit, took place after a gap of five years, was extra significance as it coincides with the 25th anniversary of the expansion of the bloc established in 1985. The ECO has turned 32 but has little success to its account due to lack of political commitment of member states, the absence of complementarities among regional economies, trade and non-trade barriers and inadequate transport linkages. For Pakistan, the summit in Islamabad was more than a mere economic huddle. It is a diplomatic victory for Pakistan against India. The low-key participation of Afghanistan signals the severing of ties between the two countries. Other than the members of ECO, China has been invited as a special guest in view of extra emphasis on the regional connectivity amid the project going on under China’s ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative. All member states of ECO should play proactive role to make this organization a dynamic and vibrant forum that can translate the evolving opportunities into the progress and prosperity of the region.
