ECO summit: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani reaches Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday reached Islamabad to attend the 13th session of the Economic Cooperation Organisation.

The session will begin in Islamabad on Wednesday and will be attended by leaders.

Upon arrival, the Iranian leader was presented guard of honour and 21-gun salute.

On the occasion, the national anthem of both nations was also recited.

ECO comprises countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkey.  

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sent a message prior to the session tomorrow, saying that common cultural heritage is our asset.

He said that the organisation’s purpose is to safeguard interests of the member countries.

The premier said that ECO will help form a new economic block, adding that it will also determine goals of ECO Vision 2025.

He said that the attendance of ECO leaders bears significance to the country.

ECO summit to help advance economic prosperity in region: PM

Earlier, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif hoped that outcome of 13th Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) summit in the form of Islamabad Declaration and ECO Vision 2025 would further enhance regional integration, connectivity and help advance economic prosperity in the region.

He expressed these views talking to Secretary General of ECO, Halil Ibrahim Akca, who called on him here.

The secretary general was in Pakistan for the ongoing13th ECO summit.

The prime minister appreciated the ECO secretary-general and his team for their preparatory work for the ECO summit in Islamabad.
He underscored the enormous potential of the ECO in the region and also referred to the commonality of interests, common cultural heritage and geographical proximity of the ECO countries.

He emphasized Pakistan's commitments to achieve the ECO objectives, as envisioned in the ECO Charter.

The ECO secretary general thanked the prime minister for hosting the ECO summit and for the excellent arrangements.
He appreciated prime minister's vision for regional connectivity and greater regional integration.

He reaffirmed the role of the ECO secretariat for fully implementing the ECO initiatives and moving the organisation forward for the benefit of its member states.