The Turkmen delegation, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmet Gurbanov, participated in the 28th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) on Tuesday in Mashhad, Islamic Republic of Iran, as reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.
Foreign ministers from ECO member countries, heads of specialized institutions, regional bodies, and structural divisions of the organization attended the event. The agenda included strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, green economy, digitalization, energy, ecology, agriculture, and transport.
Participants discussed strategies for developing trade and economic ties, including exploring new avenues for economic growth, and approved the Council's work program, reports on the secretariat's activities, and the budget for 2025. The chairmanship of the organization transitioned from the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Speaking at the meeting, Gurbanov emphasized the importance of ECO’s conceptual documents, such as ECO Vision 2025 and the Ashgabat Consensus for Action, which provide a foundation for adapting to new challenges and set guidelines for joint efforts. He presented Turkmenistan's initiatives for developing transport and logistics infrastructure, energy, and proposals for enhancing cooperation in industry, cross-border trade, and food security.
The meeting concluded with the signing of the Mashhad Communiqué, which outlines strategic initiatives for further developing multifaceted regional cooperation.
On the sidelines of the forum, Gurbanov met with ECO Secretary-General Asad Majid Khan. The Secretary-General noted Turkmenistan's growing role in the organization and expressed satisfaction with the country's significant initiatives. They discussed ways to enhance the effectiveness of ECO and Turkmen projects in transport and tourism.
On the eve of the meeting, senior officials of ECO gathered in Mashhad on December 2 to discuss preparations for the ministerial meeting.
