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ISLAMABAD, March 1 (Xinhua) -- The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) on Wednesday welcomed the multi-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in its declaration adopted at the conclusion of its 13th summit.
The Islamabad Declaration welcomed the CPEC as a "far-reaching initiative that would act as catalyst for the development of the entire region."
The 10-member group also called for enhanced connectivity in terms of transport and transit, telecommunications and cyber, and all forms of energy, as well as people-to-people exchanges, including through regional tourism arrangements.
The summit adopted "ECO VISION 2025" that will enable the grouping to develop and implement strategies in the areas of trade, transport and connectivity, energy, tourism, economic growth and productivity, social welfare and environment.
The declaration also welcomed further enlargement and outreach of the organization through full membership to interested states and observership to interested states and organizations.
The summit expressed concerns about existing unresolved conflicts in the ECO region, which hinder the economic growth and realization of the full economic potential of the region and impede the development of economic cooperation on regional as well as broader level.
The leaders stressed the importance of making increased efforts for the earliest resolution of the conflicts based on the norms and principles of international law, in particular the principles of respect to sovereignty and territorial integrity.
They recognized the inter-linkage between development, peace and security for lasting prosperity and stability in the region and expressing grave concern over the security challenges of the region, including terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations which pose a great threat to individuals' lives and national, regional and global security.
The summit reiterated that terrorism can not and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnicity and expressing our resolve to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
The ECO groups Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
The theme of the summit was "Connectivity for Regional Prosperity."
