Regionalism sees ‘growing relevance in present circumstances,’ says ECO bloc top official

Regional cooperation is gaining renewed importance amid rising global uncertainty, Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Secretary General Asad Majeed Khan told Anadolu on Friday.

However, Khan warned that unilateral policies are “undermining” international trade stability.

The increasing “weaponization of trade and financial systems” is disrupting the free flow of commerce and affecting economic growth across regions, Khan said in an interview with Anadolu on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Türkiye.

ECO is a 10-member regional intergovernmental body established in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan and Türkiye to promote economic, technical and cultural cooperation. It expanded in 1992 to include Central Asian and Caucasian countries.

"In the present circumstances, what we can very clearly see is the growing relevance of regionalism, of the growing relevance of countries that have geographic contiguity to come together to build economic trade and transport linkages," he said.

Khan, a veteran Pakistani diplomat, stressed that such trends make regional groupings like the ECO "more relevant than ever."

Amid the war involving the US, Israel and Iran, Khan said the ECO has continued functioning despite challenges linked to the location of its headquarters in Tehran, where staff were safely evacuated.

He lauded the resilience of Iranian staff "who ensured uninterrupted operations, including meetings and ongoing initiatives."

Looking ahead, the ECO chief highlighted a packed diplomatic calendar, including participation in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum and upcoming ministerial meetings in Astana and Shusha.

He emphasized the importance of projects such as the Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad (ITI) corridor, describing it as central to linking member states and facilitating trade, particularly for landlocked countries.

Khan also noted that Pakistan currently holds the ECO chairmanship, giving it a greater role in shaping the bloc’s future direction, including promoting regional peace and economic integration.

He concluded that shared geography, culture and energy resources make regional cooperation not just relevant but essential in today’s evolving geopolitical environment.

Thanks Türkiye

"I'd just like to thank Türkiye for the outstanding contributions that it makes to the work of our organization as its founding member, its continuing leadership of this organization," said Khan.

"We look to Türkiye's more contributions in the months and years ahead as we really work to rethink and reimagine ECO in line with the original vision" that was envisaged in 1964 with the creation of the Regional Cooperation for Development, said Khan.

The Regional Cooperation for Development initiative launched in 1964 by Ankara, Tehran and Islamabad later evolved into the ECO in 1985.