Baku ready to host 7th Ministerial Conference within the framework of the Istanbul process

By Zarina Jannat for Dispatch News Desk News Agency

Baku, Azerbaijan: Baku is ready to host 7th Ministerial Conference within the framework of the Istanbul process on November 30

Foreign Minister of Pakistan Khawaja Asif will have a joint meeting with Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Turkey on November 30 in Baku. His meetings are also expected with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

According to office of the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, a joint meeting of Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov with Foreign Minister of Pakistan Khawaja Asif and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu is confirmed on November 30 in Baku.

Baku will host 7th Ministerial Conference within the framework of the Istanbul process. The 6th Ministerial Conference was hosted by Amritsar—a city of Indian Punjab. 7th Ministerial Conference as part of the Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process (HoA IP) will be held from November 30 to December 1, 2017 under the theme “Security and Economic Connectivity towards a Strengthened Heart of Asia Region. Afghanistan is co-hosting this mega event in Baku under the declaration of 6^th Ministerial Conference of HoA IP.

It is pertinent to mention that Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan, Republic of Azerbaijan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are gathering in Baku to discuss future of the region. One of agenda item includes the future of Afghanistan and on-going civil war. Member states of HoA IP are working to integrate Afghanistan into regional economy and reviving its trade with its neighbours and beyond through increased regional connectivity.

It is pertinent to mention that Baku will also host a meeting of the regional technical group of the Regional Infrastructure on November 27, 2017.

Azerbaijan is leading the region for connecting countries through different initiatives including the recently launched Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway, the new Baku International Sea Trade Port, logistics center on the shores of the Caspian Sea, linking up railway networks of Azerbaijan and Iran.

Baku believes that connectivity and of regional states would help them to get their share from global markets. Baku is working extensively to enhance capability of handling cargo and containers in a much shorter, faster, efficient and cost-effective way.