ISTANBUL: With focus on upgrading its communications and energy infrastructure and enhancing regional connectivity under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Pakistan on Friday sought enhanced trade and economic partnerships with D-8 member states through stronger rail, road, air and sea links.

Representing Pakistan at the ninth summit of the Developing Eight Organisation for Economic Cooperation (D-8), Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi urged the members to focus on project implementation for development, progress and prosperity of the people.

The ninth summit, hosted by Turkey, adopted the Istanbul Declaration 2017 and the D-8 Istanbul Plan of Action, reaffirming the group’s commitments to establish peace, democracy, and solidarity among the member states.

In the declaration, the D-8 leadership took stock of progress in various fields, including energy and economy, while expressing mutual hope that implementation of development projects and programmes would make the partnership visible and tangible to the people of the member states.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi handed over chairmanship of the organisation to Turkey.

Addressing the opening session of the summit, Prime Minister Abbasi said Pakistan assumed the chair of the organisation in November 2012 at the eighth summit in Islamabad, which adopted two landmark documents — the D-8 Charter and the Global Vision. The documents provided the essential basis for joint endeavours, he added.

The summit, whose theme was ‘Expanding Opportunities through Cooperation’, was attended by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev, Iran’s first vice president Eshaq Jahangiri and the vice president of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla.

Pakistan, Mr Abbasi said, made every effort to proactively lead the group towards realisation of its objectives and vision. “It was a privilege for us to host the summit meeting, two sessions of the council and four sessions of the D-8 commission as well as a number of sectoral meetings since November 2012,” he added.

The premier said Pakistan was celebrating 70 years of its independence and had confronted many challenges over the last decade.

“We faced unrelenting terrorism emanating from instability in our neighbourhood and the environment in the region and beyond,” he said, stressing that as a result of a comprehensive strategy and unwavering resolve, the country successfully turned the tide.

Prime Minister Abbasi said CPEC would further put Pakistan’s economy on an upward trajectory of robust growth. “Pakistan’s integration into the Eurasian Belt and road network will provide a firm foundation for [its] rapid economic development,” he added.

In his address, Mr Abbasi pointed towards the stagnation of intra-D-8 trade, after an initial increase, saying the apprehension that the target of $500 billion in 2018 — envisaged in the 2008 Kuala Lumpur Summit Roadmap — might remain elusive.

“It is, therefore, important for us to implement various instruments and agreements aimed at facilitating trade amongst member states, especially those related to preferential trade, small and medium enterprises, customs, simplification of visa matters and civil aviation,” he added.

Sectoral meetings at the ministerial level had already chalked out the roadmaps, and now was the time for implementation, the premier urged the members.

On the occasion, Mr Abbasi expressed gratitude for the hospitality extended by the Turkish leadership to the Pakistan delegation since their arrival.

President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan also addressed the opening session of the summit and spoke on various challenges faced by the Muslim world in general and the member states in particular.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2017