The ECO Secretary General, H.E. Dr. Hadi Soleimanpour attended the virtually organized launching ceremony of the International Year of Peace and Trust on January 29, 2021. The event was scheduled in line with the UN Resolution No. 73/338 adopted on September 12, 2019.

The ECO Secretary General, H.E. Dr. Hadi Soleimanpour held a videoconference with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, H.E. Mr. Rashid Meredov. The online interaction that took place between the two dignitaries on January 27, 2021 covered several issues of regional importance, including the amplification of collaborative activities from the ECO’s forum to push further the process of sustainable economic growth and development in the region.

The 31st Meeting of the ECO Regional Planning Council was held virtually on January 12 – 21, 2021. The Representatives of the ECO Member States, ECO Regional Institutes, Specialized Agencies, Affiliated Bodies as well as ECO Observers participated in the event.

The ECO Secretary General, H.E. Dr. Hadi Soleimanpour received the newly appointed Deputy Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran on Economic Diplomacy, H.E. Sayed Rasool Mohajer. The visit of the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister to the ECO Secretariat on January 19, 2021 was to reciprocate a courtesy call of the ECO Secretary General who visited him earlier on January 10, 2021. During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on different activities being collaboratively done from the ECO’s platform for continuing the process of sustainable economic growth and development in the region.

The ECO Secretary General, H.E. Dr. Hadi Soleimanpour has warmly congratulated the President-elect of the Kyrgyz Republic H.E. Sadyr Japarov on his historic victory in the recent presidential election of the country.

The newly appointed Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to ECO, H.E. Dr. Seyed Jalaledin Alavi Sabzevari presented his letter of credence to the ECO Secretary General, H.E. Dr. Hadi Soleimanpour on December 21, 2020.

On the invitation of Minister of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Secretary General of International Energy Charter, a delegation of the Economic Cooperation Organization headed by Ambassador Huseyin Avni Bicakli, Deputy Secretary General of ECO participated in the Ministerial Session of 31st Meeting of Energy Charter Conference on December 17, 2020 under the chairmanship of Azerbaijan.

The First Meeting of the Heads of National Development Funds of ECO Member States, held virtually on December 16, 2020 under the chairmanship of the Islamic Republic of Iran, was attended by relevant Representatives of the Member States, ECO Secretariat, ECO Trade and Development Bank and ECO Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The ECO Secretary General, H.E. Dr. Hadi Soleimanpour participated in an International Conference on the policy of neutrality and its significance in ensuring international peace, security and sustainable development. The event held on December 12, 2020 was dedicated to the 25th Anniversary of the Permanent Neutrality Policy of Turkmenistan. A number of regional and international representatives as well as local dignitaries attended the forum.

The ECO Ministerial Meeting on Transport was held virtually on December 15, 2020 to discuss the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on the region’s transport sector and the ways and means to address the stressed socio-economic conditions.