Summit communique calls for new Silk Road

ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News

Marmara Group Foundation chair Akkan Suver speaks at the Eurasian Economic Summit.

Income disparity and unemployment rates are the single most important problems facing the world today, said attendees of the 15th Eurasian Economic Summit in a communiqué released April 14. 

The communiqué called for the historical Silk Road to be reinstated through roads and railways, with the participation and contribution of all developing countries in the region.

Problems of hunger, poverty and unemployment can be tackled through a political will, the communiqué said, and the private sector should update itself accordingly. Joint manufacturing and cooperation in trade are important factors in the fight against poverty and inequalities, the communiqué said.

Renewable energy’s share should be raised to 30 percent with nuclear energy should be raised 5 percent in total energy production, according to summit attendees.

“Attendees particularly state that Eurasian economy summits provide a platform, a communication platform, where people can discuss national and world problems freely,” the final declaration said.

Collaboration is needed on numerous issues ranging from energy security, the global financial crisis as well as international firms’ attitudes toward clean water demand and the clash of civilizations, the statement said.

Representatives from 50 countries attended the summit. Presidents of Albania, Montenegro, Macedonia and the governor of Gagauzia, an autonomous region in Moldova, were present at the meetings. The attendees were mostly comprised of an assembly president, a prime minister, 30 ministers, nine former presidents and 275 senior foreign participants. 

Azerbaijani president İlham Aliyev and UNESCO General Director Irina Bokova sent special messages to the summit.

The final declaration said attendees desired to strengthen the network between women executives in Turkey and the region. 

The attendees also emphasized the importance of African representatives’ participation in the summit.

The summit was organized by the Marmara Group Foundation and the İzmir Chamber of Commerce and held from April 10 and 12 in Istanbul and the western province of İzmir.