Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry: Khankendi Communiqué adopted following 17th ECO Summit

The 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO), hosted for the first time in Khankendi on July 3–4, concluded with the adoption of the “Khankendi Communiqué” — a landmark document affirming member states’ commitment to climate resilience, sustainable development, and support for Azerbaijan’s post-conflict recovery in the Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur regions.

Initiated by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, H.E. Mr Ilham Aliyev, the Summit was dedicated to the theme “New ECO Vision for a Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Future”. Prior to the Summit, the ECO Youth Forum was held in Aghdam on July 1, the ECO Women’s Forum in Lachin on July 2, and the 6th ECO Business Forum in Shusha, also on July 2, Caliber.Az reports via the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

As the concluding document of the 17th ECO Summit, the Khankendi Communiqué, serving as the Chair’s Summary, was adopted.

The Communiqué highly commends the large-scale reconstruction and development efforts in the Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur economic regions of Azerbaijan, which have been liberated from occupation.

Furthermore, the document reaffirms the right of Azerbaijani internally displaced persons to return to their native lands in a dignified manner.

In line with the Summit’s central theme, economic resilience and climate sustainability have been identified as key priorities for ECO’s future agenda.

The environmental initiatives of female leaders from the ECO region, especially those of the First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, and the First Lady of the Republic of Türkiye, Mrs Emine Erdoğan — notably the “Zero Waste” initiative — were highly appreciated.

The Communiqué also highlights the importance of launching the ECO Clean Energy Centre and expanding the activities of the ECO Research Centre.

Support was expressed for initiatives such as the ECO Investment, the Council of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the establishment of a unified information space, and the strengthening of the mandate of the ECO Trade and Development Bank.

The significance of sustainable urban development and the upcoming World Urban Forum (WUF13), to be held in Baku next year, was also underlined.

The full text of the Khankendi Communiqué is available at the following link.

By Vugar Khalilov