Building Bridges: ECO’s Call for Cooperative Regionalism at Summit of the Future

At the Plenary of the Summit of the Future and during the high-level Interactive Dialogue titled “The Future Starts Now: Enhancing the Global System for Current and Future Generations,” H.E. Dr. Asad M. Khan, Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), delivered statements emphasizing the need for strengthened multilateralism and enhanced regional cooperation to tackle the pressing contemporary global challenges. His statements at both events highlighted the importance of regionalism in addressing contemporary critical issues.

Dr. Asad M. Khan emphasized the historical significance of the United Nations in maintaining global peace and prosperity through dialogue and cooperation, while acknowledging challenges multilateralism is experiencing presently. He advocated for cooperative regionalism as a foundation for a more inclusive and networked multilateralism.

Welcoming the adoption of the Pact of the Future, Dr. Khan outlined the ECO Vision 2025, which aligns with the Agenda for Sustainable Development 2030 (SDGs) and conveyed ECO’s commitment to incorporate outcomes from the Summit of the Future into its post-2025 strategy.

In conclusion, Dr. Khan stressed the interconnectedness of global challenges and reaffirmed ECO’s commitment to enhancing regional collaboration, expressing confidence that better-connected regions will facilitate stronger multilateralism.