U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki—moon has asked the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan to continue to “push for progress on economic cooperation” in the region.
In a message to fourth Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan, in Istanbul, Ban said “I urge all Afghanistan’s neighbours and other countries in the region to continue to push for progress on economic cooperation.”
Ban’s message was delivered by his Special Representative in Afghanistan Staffan de Mistura.
“I welcome your consideration today of transport infrastructure, energy sharing and counter—narcotics,” it said.
Hailing the recent trade pact between Kabul and Islamabad, Ban said “the new trade and transit agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan has now been signed and awaits endorsement by the legislatures of the two countries“.
“The Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA) must remain an Afghan—centred approach focused on concrete objectives that benefit all participants,” he noted.
The forum was created in Kabul in 2005 and its membership has grown from the initial 20 countries to 60 including India.
In 2006, India hosted RECCA in which a “New Delhi Declaration” was signed to initiate stronger economic ties in the region.
