The Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Dr. Asad M. Khan, participated in a high-level luncheon discussion titled “New Opportunities for Asia–Europe Cooperation amid Transformative Changes”, held during the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026 in Boao, China.
The session convened senior policymakers, business leaders, and representatives of international organizations from across Asia and beyond to examine emerging avenues for cooperation in a rapidly evolving geopolitical, technological, and economic landscape.
In his remarks, the Secretary General underscored ECO’s role as a vital bridge between Asia and Europe, highlighting the Organization’s strategic position in fostering regional connectivity, facilitating trade, and promoting economic integration across Eurasia. He emphasized that ECO member states collectively represent significant economic and geographic linkages that can help anchor deeper interregional cooperation. In this context, he stressed the importance of both Asia and Europe engaging more proactively and working towards institutionalizing their cooperation, noting that the scale of their economic contributions and their shared stakes in the global system necessitate more structured, sustained, and forward-looking engagement.
Dr. Khan stressed the importance of advancing digital transformation, developing sustainable and resilient infrastructure, and expanding diversified trade partnerships. He called for enhanced collaboration among governments, regional organizations, and international financial institutions to mobilize resources and implement projects that strengthen connectivity across the ECO region and beyond.
Dr. Khan expressed his sincere appreciation to Mr. Zhang Jun, Secretary General of the Boao Forum for Asia, for the kind invitation to participate in the high-level discussion. He also highlighted ECO’s strong interest in fostering closer collaboration with the Forum, emphasizing the value of such platforms in facilitating dialogue, partnerships, and joint initiatives. Dr. Khan also reaffirmed ECO’s commitment to deepening engagement with the forum as well as with China, in promoting regional connectivity, sustainable development, and broader Asia-Europe cooperation.
