KHANKENDI, AZERBAIJAN - JULY 4, 2025: The 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) kicked off in Khankendi, Azerbaijan on Friday, July 04. Hosted by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the Khankendi Congress Center, the summit began with a traditional family photo featuring participating leaders and senior officials. Among those present for the photo were Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, Afghanistan's acting Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar, Turkmenistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Sultan Al Jaber, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States Kubanychbek Omuraliev, and Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization Asad Majeed Khan. Held under the theme “New ECO Vision for a Sustainable and Climate Resilient Future,” the summit brings together member state leaders to discuss regional cooperation with a focus on climate change, trade, transportation networks, and institutional reform.