A bilateral Meeting between ECO Secretary General H.E. Mr. Halil Ibarahim Akca and H.E. Mr. Sartaj Aziz, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan was held on 15 November 2017 on the margins of the 7th Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA-VII) in Ashgabat. The purpose of the talks was to review the latest status of the preparations for 28th ECO Regional Planning Council (RPC) to be attended by the ministers of economy/planning of the ECO Member States. The RPC meeting is scheduled for 11-14 December 2017 in Islamabad.
Ambassador Halil Ibrahim Akca briefed H.E. Mr. Sartaj Aziz on the preparatory process of 28th Regional Planning Council (RPC). He also informed Pakistani official on his recent bilateral meetings with Turkish Minister of Development in Ankara and Uzbek Development Minister in Tashkent in this regard.
Mr. Sartaj Aziz shared his views on the optimal format and contents of the RPC ministerial meeting and highlighted the view that the role of Planning and Development ministers needs to be strengthened in the framework of ECO.
Both sides further discussed some substantial and organizational issues related to the organization of the 28th RPC Meeting, including the envisaged “ECO Special Conference on Afghanistan” planned to be held on the sidelines of upcoming RPC Meeting. They also underscored the importance of this RPC meeting as the first such meeting after the adoption of the “ECO Vision 2025”.
