The Executive Director of the ECO Cultural Institute, in a note published by ISNA, has described bilingual poets as a neglected yet vital asset for cultural diplomacy across the ECO region, calling for the creation of an "Atlas of Bilingual Poets of ECO Member States" to foster regional integration and academic-cultural collaboration.
The Executive Director of the ECO Cultural Institute has emphasized the need to recognize and utilize the heritage of bilingual poets across the region, in a note published by ISNA under the title "Bilingual Poets: A Neglected Asset for Cultural Diplomacy and Regional Integration in the ECO Region."
In this note, he argues that regional cooperation is not driven solely by economic interests. Shared cultural and civilizational foundations play a fundamental role in deepening and sustaining regional interactions.
It is further noted that ECO member states, despite their linguistic and political diversity, share a long and interconnected civilizational history—a region that for centuries stood as one of the world's major centers of knowledge, literature, and cultural production.
The author highlights the unique position of bilingual poets and thinkers, describing them as early carriers of cultural dialogue among nations. Beyond their linguistic capabilities, these figures are portrayed as individuals who lived across two cultural worlds, playing an essential role in transmitting ideas and cultural values.
Within the ECO region, bilingual poets are introduced as part of a shared cultural memory—prominent figures whose works are cherished across multiple nations, offering a solid foundation for fostering mutual understanding and sustainable cultural dialogue.
The note also calls for a redefinition of soft power within the framework of regional cooperation, identifying shared literary and cultural heritage as one of the most significant sources of soft power for ECO member states.
In its concluding section, the author points to the absence of a comprehensive regional program for identifying and promoting bilingual poets, and puts forward the proposal for an "Atlas of Bilingual Poets of ECO Member States" as a strategic cultural initiative—one that could pave the way for stronger academic and cultural collaboration among member countries.