Azerbaijan Issues Statement on Khankendi Communiqué Adopted at 17th ECO Summit
Baku, The Gulf Observer: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan has issued a formal statement regarding the adoption of the Khankendi Communiqué, the Chair’s Summary, at the 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), held in Khankendi on July 3–4, 2025.
According to the statement, the summit was convened under the chairmanship of President Ilham Aliyev and focused on the theme “New ECO Vision for a Sustainable and Climate Resilient Future.” Several high-level events preceded the summit, including the ECO Youth Forum in Aghdam (July 1), the ECO Women’s Forum in Lachin (July 2), and the 6th ECO Business Forum in Shusha (July 2), all hosted in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories.
The Ministry emphasized that the Khankendi Communiqué reflects the collective vision of ECO member states in shaping a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient economic future. The Communiqué commended Azerbaijan’s extensive post-conflict reconstruction and restoration efforts in the Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur economic regions.
It further reaffirmed the right of Azerbaijanis displaced from Armenia to return to their ancestral lands in dignity and security. In alignment with the summit’s theme, the Communiqué identified economic resilience and climate sustainability as top priorities on the ECO’s forward-looking agenda.
The statement also highlighted regional environmental initiatives, including the “Zero Waste” campaign jointly championed by First Vice-President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva and First Lady of Türkiye Emine Erdoğan, acknowledging the growing leadership role of women in environmental advocacy across the ECO region.
Additionally, the Communiqué underlined the importance of launching the ECO Clean Energy Centre and strengthening the work of the ECO Research Center. It voiced support for initiatives such as “ECO Invest,” the ECO Chamber of Commerce and Industry Council, the development of a unified ECO information space, and enhancing the mandate of the ECO Trade and Development Bank.
The Communiqué also stressed the significance of sustainable urban development, welcoming Baku’s hosting of the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13) in 2026, which is expected to serve as a key platform for advancing global discussions on inclusive and resilient urbanization.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reaffirmed the country’s commitment to regional cooperation under the ECO framework and praised the collective efforts of member states in advancing economic integration and shared prosperity in the region.
