Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the emerging economic powers in Asia would change the global economic streams in near future.
Delivering the opening speech at the 13th ECO summit in Islamabad on March 1, Rouhani underlined that ECO member states would make great steps to enact ECO programs with cooperation and exchanging views, Mehr news agency reported.
“Heart of economy would beat in Asia in near future as the emerging powers would alter the main economic trends in the world turning the 21st century to Asia’s booming era,” Rouhani asserted.
Rouhani, noting the speculations made on global economy, said “the developments in position of some key ECO members would turn Asia once again to the West-East cross point; this future begins today and would show the world that ECO, not only has not lost its existence philosophy, but soon would be an important entity.”
Iranian president underlined that the unique position of ECO member states in fields such as transportation, energy and trade creates an ideal position for the Organization, adding “Economic Cooperation Organization has to play leading role in building the future of the region and needs to be well organized in this path.”
Further, Rouhnai lamented thst the level of cooperation is not satisfying, saying member states should benefit from the organization’s capacity to enhance production and trade particularly in energy sector.
“Through synergy, we could accomplish more precipitous growth in our countries,” said Rouhani adding “linking of ECO economies is subject to closer ties among our people and thereby barriers to these links need to be alleviated.”
He went on to stress that cultural commonalities marked an unmatched capital for economic collaborations though obstacles to visa issuance and transportation need to be tackled to provide possibility of joint flight for private sectors and economic activists of all countries.
The President said the message of ECO summit to entrepreneurs of member stated needs to coder longer-term horizons saying “road, rail, power grid as well as communication and telecommunication links offer best opportunity to economies of our countries in order to manifest common interests.”