Nearly a Quarter-Century of Achievement

The 23rd Eurasian Economic Summit was successfully held on 7–8 October 2020 with the participation of representatives from 45 countries. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Summit was broadcast by satellite from a live studio established at the Bakırköy Yunus Emre Cultural Centre in Istanbul and was followed across Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas and Australia.

Held under the principal themes “In the Light of the Belt and Road Initiative”, “The New World after Coronavirus” and “Welcome to the New World Economy”, the Summit brought together presidents, speakers of parliament and senate, statespeople, academics, business leaders and faith leaders.

Opening Ceremony

The Summit opened with a message from President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, delivered during a live contribution by Azerbaijan's Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov. The opening programme included addresses by Avcılar Mayor Turan Hançerli, İHKİB President Mustafa Gültepe, Turkish Exporters Assembly President İsmail Gülle, IRCICA Director General Prof. Dr. Halit Eren, TURKSOY Secretary General Dusen Kaseinov, PABSEC Secretary General Prof. Dr. Asaf Hajiyev, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President George Tsereteli, Governor of Istanbul Ali Yerlikaya and President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Marinko Čavara.

Speakers examined the pandemic's effects on public health, international institutions, supply chains, trade, culture and regional cooperation. A traditional İHKİB fashion show was also presented by satellite, enabling young Turkish designers to display their work despite pandemic restrictions.

Welcome to the New World Economy

The economic session, moderated by Prof. Dr. Ersin Kalaycıoğlu and Turan Sarıgülle, opened with a contribution from Sinovac Biotech General Manager Guang Helen Yang. International speakers discussed vaccine research, economic recovery, green development, digitalisation, regional trade, resilient supply chains and the future of globalisation.

Contributors included Speaker of the Mongolian Parliament Gombojav Zandanshatar, former Austrian Vice-Chancellor Dr. Erhard Busek, Albanian parliamentarian Senida Mesi, Belgian parliamentarian and Saint-Josse Mayor Emir Kır, Vienna Economic Forum Secretary General Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, Prince Radu of Romania, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Kazakhstan Janseit Tuimebayev, Ambassador Ou Boqian, former Kyrgyz Prime Minister Djoomart Otorbaev, former Romanian Prime Minister Petre Roman and numerous diplomats, academics and institutional representatives.

The discussions highlighted the need for stronger multilateral cooperation, investment in digital infrastructure and education, support for start-ups and innovation, and economic policies capable of reducing inequalities between and within countries. Türkiye's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yavuz Selim Kıran concluded the session by stressing the objective of making Eurasia an “island of trust” serving humanity's shared interests.

Sustainable Energy Policies after the Coronavirus Pandemic

The energy session, moderated by Cafer Okray and Sezgin Bilgiç, began with a SOCAR presentation. Azerbaijan's Deputy Minister of Energy Elnur Soltanov, Turkmenistan's Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy Rovshen Nuryagdyyev, London Energy Club Chairman Mehmet Öğütcü, South African MP Zolani Mkiva, SOCAR Türkiye executives and international energy specialists discussed energy security, regional investment, digital transformation, clean technologies and long-term sustainability.

Terrorism and Regional Conflicts

The fourth session addressed peace, human values, terrorism and regional disputes. Speakers included former President of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Ali Bardakoğlu, Belarusian Institute for Strategic Research Director Oleg Makarov, former Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Meleșcanu, Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, ICESCO Director General Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and representatives of Christian communities and international organisations.

The session emphasised dialogue, tolerance, solidarity and the protection of diversity. Faith leaders argued that the pandemic had revealed humanity's shared destiny and reinforced the need for spiritual renewal, cooperation and peaceful solutions.

An Ongoing Human Tragedy: Nagorno-Karabakh

A dedicated session considered the historical and political dimensions of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Turkish parliamentarians Şamil Ayrım, Orhan Erdem and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Halil Özşavlı presented historical documents, international decisions and parliamentary statements concerning Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.

At the conclusion of the Summit, participants addressed a letter to President Ilham Aliyev expressing concern over developments in Karabakh and support for a peaceful settlement in accordance with international law. Dr. Akkan Suver presented the letter to Azerbaijan's Consul General in Istanbul Nermine Mustafayeva.

Wise Persons' Session: New Balances, Respect and Governance

Moderated by Dr. Akkan Suver, the Wise Persons' Session brought together sixteen current and former presidents. Türkiye's 11th President Abdullah Gül, former presidents Bujar Nishani, Heinz Fischer, Mladen Ivanić, Petar Stoyanov, Stjepan Mesić, Ivo Josipović, Valdis Zatlers, Petru Lucinschi, Filip Vujanović, Gjorge Ivanov, Emil Constantinescu, Danilo Türk and Moncef Marzouki were among those who assessed the changing global balance after the pandemic.

The presidents discussed the future of globalisation, the vulnerability of societies, human security, health systems, international organisations, democratic governance and the need for renewed solidarity. Their common message was that recovery required cooperation, science, social justice and institutions capable of protecting human dignity.