Vice-Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov reported on preparations for the XV Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) during a working meeting chaired by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on Monday.

 The Vice-Chairman noted that Turkmenistan, which has been a member of the ECO since 1992, will host the upcoming summit as the country presiding in this organization.  This large regional association was created for the purpose of more effective interstate cooperation in the spheres of economy and trade.

 On the initiative of the leader of the nation, the date of the next ECO Summit was November 28, when the ECO Day is celebrated.  In order to organize it at a high level, an organizing committee was created.

 Having listened to the report, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that Turkmenistan attaches great importance to fruitful interaction with the ECO, which is one of the authoritative international structures.  Our country is in favor of building up mutually beneficial partnership between the member states of this Organization in various fields, making efforts to strengthen the role of the ECO in the world arena.

 Expressing confidence that the upcoming XV ECO Summit and the events planned within its framework will make a great contribution to the further development of friendly interstate relations, the leader of Turkmenistan gave the Vice-Chairman specific instructions on comprehensive preparation for this important international event.

 On the eve of the High-level Summit in Ashgabat on November 26, the IV business forum of the ECO member states will be held.

 ECO was founded in 1985 and unites 10 states – Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.