Baku, December 3, AZERTAC

As part of his working visit to the Iranian city of Mashhad, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov participated in the 28th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).

Addressing the meeting, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov highlighted Azerbaijan's vision for strengthening collaboration within the ECO, institutional development of the Organization, and cooperation in areas such as trade and economics, energy, ecology, transport and communications, and other sectors.

FM Bayramov underscored the importance of the 28th Meeting of the Council of Ministers, following the ECO meeting held earlier on October 10, 2023, in Shusha, in terms of the progress achieved and the discussion of future plans to address the Organization's needs and reinforce collaboration among member states.

Jeyhun Bayramov expressed his gratitude to the Islamic Republic of Iran for chairing the Organization in 2024, as well as for hosting the 28th ECO Foreign Ministers' Meeting and its hospitality. He also wished the Republic of Kazakhstan the best of luck as it is slated to chair the Organization next year.

In mentioning Azerbaijan's intention to host the ECO Summit next year, FM Bayramov highlighted the importance of the active involvement and contributions of all member countries. He emphasized the significance of the 'ECO Vision 2025' strategy document, which builds on the existing economic potential among member states and sets targets for addressing regional challenges in alignment with the sustainable development agenda.

Bayramov also stressed the importance of the activities of specialized institutions in promoting collaboration across various domains within the ECO, including trade, investment, transport, energy security, agriculture, tourism, and environmental protection. He highlighted the ECO Research and Clean Energy Centers, planned to be launched in Azerbaijan, and emphasized the need to sign and ratify their founding documents to ensure the efficiency of these institutions.

During the meeting, the Azerbaijani minister also discussed the significance of regional transport and infrastructure projects.

Detailing the achievements of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, hosted by Azerbaijan this November, which marked the first COP29 in the ECO region, the minister described the agreements reached, including the Baku Finance Goal, as milestones in addressing the climate crisis.

Minister Bayramov also provided insights into the regional sustainable development initiatives signed as part of COP29, which he believed would play a crucial role in ensuring economic development and energy security in the region.

In conclusion, the Council adopted the Mashhad Communiqué.