Iran to host Economic Cooperation Organization summit in 2027

BAKU. July 4 (Interfax) - The next, 18th summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization will take place in Iran in 2027.

The decision was made at the end of the organization's summit in Khankendi, the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, on Friday.

The organization said in a statement that the leaders of member states expressed their determination to bolster regional cooperation with emphasis on trade, connectivity and green transition and emphasized the importance of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals at the summit in Khankendi.

"They [the leaders] also stressed the need for deepening cooperation in such key areas as tourism, energy, science, education and cultural exchanges, thus recognizing their vital role in promoting mutual understanding, innovations and inclusive development of the entire region," the statement said.

It described the summit in Khankendi as an important platform for enhancing the shared commitment of member states to the sustainable economic growth, deeper regional integration and inclusive development, it said.

The Economic Cooperation Organization is a regional interstate economic organization founded in 1985. Turkey, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are its members, while the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is an observer. The organization holds summits once in two years.