H.E. Dr. Shamil Aleskerov, the Secretary-General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), paid a courtesy visit to the D-8 Secretariat, Istanbul, on Thursday, 18 April 2013. He was graciously welcomed by the Secretary-General, H.E. Dr. Seyed Ali Mohammad Mousavi, at the premise of the D-8 Secretariat, where the two head of the sister Organization exchanged fruitful views on the issue of implementation of the MoU between the two entities which had already been signed in 2011. 

Both Organization underlined the advisability of studying possible collaboration, and seek to map out the action plan for the MoU to be implemented in visible activities. The D-8 Secretary-General proposed that a technical commitee to study this issue in detail, and the Director II (for External Relation) shall soon be visiting the ECO Secretariat to discuss and study the implementation ideas in relevant fields. In this regard, the both sides agreed to intensify communication and coordination through their Secretariats. 

Both sides also emphasized the significance of D-8 and ECO collaboration as one of the appropriate mechanisms to promote regional economic cooperation aimed at sustainable development and improving the standards of living for the nations of both member states. They also expressed the need for further interaction between ECO and D-8 Organization.