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Ashgabat:
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has urged all Organization of Economic Cooperation (ECO) members, particularly its 5 landlocked states, to function transit corridors by means of Afghanistan for transit commerce.
The minister mentioned this stuff whereas addressing the twenty fifth assembly of the Council of Ministers of the ECO in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan.
Qureshi described the opening of a number of ECO transport corridors as crucial goal. “I would like to welcome the operation of the Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad (ITI) road corridor.”
Apart from Taftan, Pakistan has notified Gabad-Rimdan border crossing level as TIR [International Road Transport] station, he added.
The External Affairs Minister described the restoration of peace and stability in Afghanistan as essential for this goal. “We must all provide humanitarian and economic assistance to Afghanistan and its people to prevent widespread human suffering and economic collapse.”
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He additional mentioned that member states ought to encourage new authorities in Kabul to advertise inclusive governance, respect for human rights together with ladies’s rights and motion in opposition to terrorism as a way to absolutely stabilize Afghanistan.
“The six-neighbourhood format, which Pakistan introduced, provides an effective means to promote stabilization in Afghanistan,” he mentioned.
CPEC, Other Projects
Qureshi mentioned, “Together, we should support the early implementation of agreed projects involving Afghanistan: the TAPI gas pipeline, the Kasa 1000 power grid, and the Trans-Afghan Railway that connects Termez-Mazar-e-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar.” Yes,” Qureshi mentioned.
He expressed hope that the area would additionally profit from the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). “We should also identify, prepare and implement additional cross-border projects between ECO countries.”
free commerce zone
FM Qureshi mentioned there’s a want for a extra focused effort to establish and promote commerce amongst ECO members, as envisaged within the ECO’s Trade Agreement (ECOTA).
He careworn that the time has come to emulate different regional entities, corresponding to ASEAN and the African Union, by creating an ECO regional free commerce zone. This, he mentioned, will encourage larger mutual funding, widespread provide chain, elevated productiveness and competitiveness of ECO economies.
boosting economies
“Strengthening the role of ECO Bank and the operations of ECO Reinsurance Company can make a positive contribution to our trade, investment and integration objectives,” the minister mentioned.
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According to him, financing must also be raised by means of multilateral, regional and nationwide improvement banks, personal markets to attain the enterprise and improvement aims of the ECO.
Qureshi highlighted that as acknowledged in Vision 2025, ECO economies shall be dynamic solely when they’re knowledge-based and digital.
“In this context, we welcome the institution of the Research and Development Center in Azerbaijan, which can function a mechanism for scientific and technological data trade in addition to cooperation in R&D. [research and development] and know-how functions.”
international digital economic system
He additional added that the combination of ECO members into the rising international digital economic system will decide whether or not they can maintain dynamic development and stay aggressive internationally. “We must develop and implement ECO projects for the installation of broadband and other IT hardware and software, and the training of a digital workforce.”
He mentioned that to derive full profit from its geographical location, the ECO ought to promote a confluence of pursuits and cooperation with China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). “The ECO Secretariat will prepare a study on the best way to develop such cooperation,” he mentioned.
Qureshi added: “The ECO should also study the potential for ECO trade and mutual cooperation with all markets adjacent to the ECO region – China, Russia, Europe, ASEAN, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the African Union.”
He mentioned this might result in the identification of particular cooperative initiatives with governments or establishments in these areas.
tackling covid-19
To recuperate from the pandemic, ECO members should prioritize vaccination and associated well being response. We should insist on equality within the manufacturing, distribution and availability of “Covid-19 vaccines” for all of our folks.
future prospects
He reminded the discussion board that every one ECO member nations are creating nations and specifically careworn the necessity for working collectively inside the Group of 77 and China to appreciate our widespread targets of prosperity and improvement by means of the implementation of the SDGs. [Sustainable Development Goals],
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“The ECO should play an active and influential role within this grouping. Next year, Pakistan will preside over it. We look forward to the support of ECO members to advance our common objectives,” he mentioned.
Concluding, Qureshi mentioned: “As members of the ECO, I hope that we will also join hands in combating Islamophobia and promoting the legitimate rights of all Muslim peoples, especially the self-determination of the people of Palestine and Jammu. and will promote the right to liberation and Kashmir.”
Earlier, the Minister mentioned that Pakistan attaches excessive precedence to the ECO which is a grouping of our 10 most essential regional companions.
“We believe that the ECO has significant potential to emerge as a powerful regional entity: resources, enterprising people, geographical proximity and a strategic location in the heart of Eurasia,” he mentioned.
He additionally mentioned that Pakistan appreciates the progress report ready by the discussion board concerning the aims of ECO Vision 2025 in addition to the affect of COVID-19 on the member states.
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