ECO-ASEAN Ministers Meeting on the sidelines of 58th session of UN General Assembly
Press Release
A meeting between the ministers representing both Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) was held on the sidelines of the 58 session of United Nations General Assembly on September 30, 2003 in United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The meeting which is a regular yearly event, was co-chaired by Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan H. E Mr. Kassymzomart K. Tokayeva and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Lao Democratic Republic H. E. Somsavat Langsavad, Secretary General of ECO Ambassador Bekzhasar Narbayev and ASEAN H. E Ong Keng Yong also participated in the meeting.
The Foreign Minster of Kazakhstan H. E Tokayev welcomed the participating ministers and permanent representatives of ECO and ASEAN countries and stated that the two organizations have a lot in common and can share the experiences of regional integrations with each other. He said that the two organizations recently had new secretaries Generals and thus would benefit from new thinking and ideas.
Shedding light on the need and critical role of regional organizations for integrating the economies of its member countries, he said that the regional organizations like ECO & ASEAN are called upon to shoulder even greater responsibilities, given to the need of present day world.
Foreign Minister of Lao Democratic Peoples Republic H.E Mr. Somsavat Langsavad supported the view of Hi. E Mr. Tokayeva and urged the meeting to send a strong signal to the two organizations to support each other’s activities and raise their level of cooperation.
Secretary General of ECO Ambassador Narbayev said that he had listened to the discussions with great interest and benefited from the views of ministers & permanent representatives from both sides. He said that he would strive hard so that the existing level of cooperation between ECO and ASEAN is raised further as this is in the interest of both regions and the leaders of their two organizations have given their full support to this objective.
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