December 17, 2024
Dr. Asad M. Khan, Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), attended the 7th Ministerial Council Meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), hosted virtually by the Republic of Azerbaijan. The meeting brought together foreign ministers, deputy foreign ministers, CICA observers, and representatives of regional and international organizations. A number of important documents were adopted during the meeting, further strengthening the institutional framework of CICA.
In his address, Dr. Khan underscored the growing importance of multilateral cooperation in tackling today’s challenges and emphasized the need for a bottom-up approach to foster regional and sub-regional dialogue. He highlighted the synergies between ECO and CICA, noting that all ECO member states are also associated with CICA and operate in overlapping areas of cooperation. Referring to the 2008 Memorandum of Understanding between the two organizations, he called for translating this understanding into actionable plans and projects to achieve shared objectives. Dr. Khan concluded by reiterating ECO’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with CICA and advancing their common goal of sustainable development in the region.
