ISLAMABAD : Monitoring Desk – The Republic of Azerbaijan is hoting the 17th ECO Summit on July 3–4, 2025, in Khankendi, reaffirming its leadership in promoting regional cooperation and sustainable development. The venue is Khankendi , the capital city of Karabakh region in the Fuzuli district that has been liberted in second Karabakh war with Armenia in 2020.
Khankendi is a historical city that remained under illegal occupation for three decades. Azerbaijan has selected this place to assert on its stance that Karabakh is Azerbaijan and the gathering of major countries of this region and around are standing with Baku. This is the strongest message for the former occupant state of Armenia.
Newly liberated city is welcoming the heads of 10 countries for the biggest economic activity in the regions that were under the illegal occupation and persecution for three long decades. This shows the resolve of Azerbaijan to bring prosperity to these territories as soon as possible with the cooperation of regional players.
Azerbaijan is welcoming international guests in newly liberated territories continuously. Only few weeks ago, Azerbaijan hosted trilateral summit with Turkiye and Pakistan in LACHIN.
Pakistan, Iran and Turkiye formed Regional Cooperation for Development RCD block in 60s to connect three countries with road and rail. The Central Asian Republics and Afghanistan joined the block after the independence of CARs and it was renamed as Economic Cooperation Organization ECO.
Its present members are Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkiye, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Pakistani senior diplomat , Amb Dr Asad Majeed Khan incumbent Secretary General of this Org is a national of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan who took over his responsibilities as the 14th Secretary General of the ECO in August 2024.
The Secretary General of the Organization is elected and appointed by the ECO Council of Ministers (COM), for a three-year non-renewable office term, from among the candidates nominated by Member States based on the qualification, experience and eligibility as described in the ECO Staff Regulations.
The Summit will convene ECO Heads of States/Government, Ministers, ECO Observers, Special Guests from non-ECO countries and heads of international organizations to achieve development and prosperity through fragile economic integration.
The Summit will feature a dynamic and inclusive ECO Week, held from July 1–4, 2025, across multiple cities in Azerbaijan.
The ECO Week will include a series of thematic forums aimed at advancing youth engagement, gender inclusion and economic connectivity within the region.
The ECO Youth Forum with its thematic focus on ;
“Enhancing the Role of Youth for Building a Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Future”
ECO Women Forum focused on “Enhancing the Role of Women for Building a Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Future”
6th Business Forum will gather business leaders and investors in Fuzuli on July 2, 2025, under the theme of “Investment and Trade Promotion as a Catalyst for Sustainable Development in the ECO Region.”
Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, arrived in Azerbaijan on July 3 to attend the 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). A guard of honor was lined up at Fuzuli International Airport in honor of the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif was welcomed by Adil Karimli, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Culture, and other officials.
In his address, the Prime Minister will present Pakistan’s perspective on regional and global challenges and issues, and reiterate Pakistan’s commitment to the ECO Vision 2025. The Prime Minister will emphasize on promoting regional trade, strengthening regional connectivity, cooperation in the energy sector and measures to achieve sustainable development in the region.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, arrived in the Fuzuli district to attend the 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). A guard of honor was lined up at Fuzuli International Airport in honor of the President of Uzbekistan. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was welcomed by Adil Karimli, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Culture, Emin Huseynov, Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Khojavend districts, and other officials.
Azerbaijan – Pakistan Connectivity & Energy Cooperation – Tazeen Akhtar Islamabad
Ersin Tatar, President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, arrived in the Fuzuli district to participate in the 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). At Fuzuli International Airport, the President was welcomed by Emin Amrullayev, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Science and Education, and Emin Huseynov, Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Khojavend districts.
Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning of the Federal Republic of Nigeria arrived in Fuzuli district on July 3 to attend the 17th Sumit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). At Fuzuli International Airport, the Minister was welcomed by Eldar Seyidov, Deputy Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Aghdam, Fuzuli and Khojavend districts.
Sadyr Zhaparov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic, arrived in Azerbaijan on July 3 to attend the 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).A guard of honor was lined up at Fuzuli International Airport in honor of the President of Kyrgyzstan. President Sadyr Zhaparov was welcomed by Adil Karimli, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Culture, and other officials.
Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan, arrived in Azerbaijan’s Fuzuli district on July 3 to attend the 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in Khankendi. At Fuzuli International Airport, the Deputy PM was welcomed by Emin Huseynov, Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Khojavend districts.
According to Britannica , Xankändi, city, southwestern Azerbaijan. Situated at the foot of the eastern slopes of the Karabakh Range, the city was founded after the October Revolution (1917) on the site of the village of Khankendy.
