Cairo, Egypt — Leaders from Egypt, Türkiye, Iran, and other member nations convened on Thursday at the 11th Summit of the Developing Eight (D-8) Organization for Economic Cooperation to address pressing regional issues and enhance economic collaboration.
Opening the summit, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi highlighted major challenges facing the region, including the ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. "The global landscape is dominated by conflicts and wars, exacerbated by the rise of economic and trade protectionism and the prevalence of double standards," he stated, calling for unified efforts to overcome these obstacles.
In a significant moment marking the first visit by an Iranian president to Cairo in 11 years, President Masoud Pezeshkian urged the D-8 nations to take decisive action. "We should stand together in light of the developments that the world is witnessing," he emphasized, accusing Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war and committing genocide against the Palestinians. Pezeshkian called for concrete steps to end the Israeli "aggressions" against Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to regional stability, particularly in Syria. "We are closely following the developments in Syria," he said, stressing the importance of developing rapid plans to rebuild the country. Erdogan also proposed expanding the D-8 membership to enhance the organization’s global influence and welcomed Azerbaijan as a new member.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto called for solidarity and joint action under international law. "We must put aside our differences and work as one force to achieve prosperity for our peoples," he urged. "Cooperation is the secret of our strength."
The summit’s theme, "Investing in Youth and Supporting SMEs: Shaping Tomorrow’s Economy," underscored the participants’ focus on empowering youth and boosting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to drive sustainable development.
Renowned guests including Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati also attended the summit. Mikati appealed for support in Lebanon’s reconstruction efforts, asking, "Is it right to talk about economic cooperation while the Israeli aggression on Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza continues?"
The D-8, originally comprising Egypt, Türkiye, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Bangladesh, aims to foster economic cooperation among Muslim-majority developing countries. The inclusion of Azerbaijan marks a new chapter in the organization’s expansion.
As the summit concluded, member nations reaffirmed their commitment to collaborative action in addressing regional conflicts and promoting economic growth, emphasizing that unity and cooperation are essential in shaping a peaceful and prosperous future for the region.
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Leaders from Egypt, Türkiye, Iran address Mideast issues at D-8 summit
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