ECO’s 17th Summit in Khankendi sets new priorities on sustainability and climate resilience

The Azerbaijan State News Agency

The 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) took place in Khankendi on 3–4 July 2025, focusing on “A New Vision of ECO for a Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Future.”

Held under the chairmanship of President Ilham Aliyev, the 17th ECO Summit brought together member states to outline a renewed agenda for sustainable development and climate adaptation across the region.

Preceding the summit, Azerbaijan hosted key ECO events across its liberated territories: the ECO Youth Forum on 1 July in Aghdam, the ECO Women’s Forum on 2 July in Lachin, and the 6th ECO Business Forum on 2 July in Shusha.

The summit concluded with the adoption of the Khankendi Communiqué, which commended Azerbaijan’s large-scale reconstruction efforts in Karabakh and East Zangezur and reaffirmed the right of displaced Azerbaijanis to return to their homelands with dignity.

Reflecting the summit’s theme, the communiqué prioritised economic resilience and climate sustainability in ECO’s future agenda. It praised environmental initiatives led by women, including the “Zero Waste” project championed by Azerbaijan’s First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva and Türkiye’s First Lady Emine Erdoğan.

The communiqué also underscored the importance of operationalising the ECO Clean Energy Centre, expanding the ECO Research Centre, strengthening the ECO Trade and Development Bank, and enhancing regional trade and investment structures.

Finally, the document highlighted the significance of sustainable urban planning and the upcoming World Urban Forum 13 (WUF13) to be hosted in Baku in 2026.

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