Regional Planning Council (RPC-2026)

Distinguished Secretary General,

Excellencies,

Honourable Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me at the outset join the delegations who spoke before me to express our heartfelt condolences to the people and Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the loss of precious life and destruction to properties during this illegal war.

It is a privilege to address this distinguished meeting of the Regional Planning Council on behalf of the ECO Cultural Institute.

The ECO region represents a remarkable civilizational space shaped by centuries of cultural interaction and shared heritage. Within the ECO framework, economic and cultural cooperation are mutually reinforcing pillars of regional integration. Culture is not only a source of identity, but also a driver of sustainable development, social cohesion, innovation, and peace.

As the cultural arm of ECO, the ECO Cultural Institute is currently undergoing a process of reinvigoration and institutional renewal. Alongside the review of our organizational structure and foundational documents, we are also advancing the long-awaited Host Country Agreement.

At the same time, the Institute is strengthening its role as a platform for intellectual engagement, policy dialogue, academic exchange, scientific cooperation, and intercultural collaboration across the ECO region.

We are pursuing an ambitious programme of activities aimed at empowering scholars, artists, scientists, and young innovators to contribute more actively to regional cooperation. In this regard, ECI is preparing to launch an artist exchange programme and promote networking among art universities, cultural academies, and heritage institutions across member states.

The Institute is also placing greater emphasis on evidence-based cultural policy research. We are currently reviewing the cultural policies of ECO member states to identify common challenges and new opportunities for cooperation. The findings will be published in a special issue of ECO Heritage.

This work will be followed by regional studies on endangered tangible and intangible heritage, as well as the ECO region’s rich linguistic diversity, which according to UNESCO includes nearly 600 living languages, many of them endangered or vulnerable.

In parallel, ECI is expanding its engagement in intercultural dialogue and people-to-people connectivity through cultural festivals, youth exchanges, translation initiatives, joint exhibitions, digital platforms, and media cooperation, with special attention to youth engagement and emerging creative talent.

Excellencies,

The ECO Cultural Institute remains fully committed to working closely with the ECO Secretariat, member states, academic institutions, and partner organizations in advancing a more connected, inclusive, and culturally vibrant ECO region.

We firmly believe that stronger cultural and intellectual cooperation will contribute meaningfully to the broader vision and long-term objectives of the Economic Cooperation Organization.

I thank you for your kind attention.