The 36th meeting of the Regional Planning Council (RPC) of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) was held on May 17, 2026, in a hybrid format. The forum will continue until May 20 under the chairmanship of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.
Turkmenistan is participating in the meeting, reaffirming its commitment to regional partnership and sustainable development. The event is being held under the slogan “Revitalizing Regionalism for a Sustainable ECO.” Participants are discussing the implementation of decisions adopted at the 35th RPC meeting, as well as approving the Work Programme and Calendar of Events for 2026.
The head of the Turkmen delegation presented the country’s positions on the development of regional cooperation. The main priorities include transport and logistics integration, energy dialogue, expansion of trade and economic ties, and humanitarian cooperation.
Special attention was given to the role of the Turkmenbashi International Seaport as an element of transit corridors connecting Asia and Europe. The Turkmen side supported the development of the East–West and North–South routes, the creation of multimodal infrastructure, and the expansion of logistics capacities.
In the environmental section of the agenda, Turkmenistan emphasized the diversification of energy routes, energy security, and the introduction of energy-efficient technologies and “green” development principles.
It was also noted that the First ECO Ministerial Forum on Sustainable Development was held in Arkadag on April 28–29, 2025. The forum focused on the Sustainable Development Goals, the green economy, digital transformation, and transport connectivity.
Turkmenistan supported work on the Strategic Goals of Economic Cooperation through 2035 and reaffirmed its readiness to continue participating in ECO activities and implementing joint initiatives.