News Analysis: RECCA conference a platform to boost regional cooperation

The Afghanistan government hosted the sixth Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA) amid tight security on Thursday, which observers believe would have a positive impact on the economy of the war-torn country.

Delegates from more than 30 countries from the region and beyond and some 40 regional and international agencies, including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, attended the two- day conference to discuss economic cooperation, trade, business and the role of the private sector in boosting economic activities in the region.

Welcoming the conference, Afghan political watchers believe that hosting international and regional conferences such as RECCA in Kabul virtually demonstrates the global community's interests in Afghanistan.

"Participation of delegates and officials from some 80 countries and international agencies at the RECCA conference here in Kabul depicts Afghanistan's importance at this stage," former Commerce Minister and political analyst, Mohammad Amin Farhang, told Xinhua.

The two-day regional conference went ahead amid Taliban-led insurgency in Afghanistan where the die-hard militants have been fighting to overthrow the government and re-establish their brutal reign having been toppled in late 2001.

"Supporting the conflict-ridden Afghanistan to achieve lasting peace and improve its economy is vital to overcome the militancy in the country," the analyst maintained.

He also said that a peaceful, prosperous and stable Afghanistan would benefit the region and the world at large.

In his opening remarks Afghan deputy foreign minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai stated that "RECCA is an important regional economic cooperation which is lead, focused and owned by Afghanistan."

It is expected that the participants at the end of the RECCA meeting on Friday would issue a communiqu to stress the enhancement of trade and economic cooperation among the countries in the region.

"Connecting regional countries with railways and bolstering transit and transport system in the region would no doubt boost trade and economic cooperation in our region," the former Afghan commerce minister said.

Nevertheless, he termed the ongoing militancy in Afghanistan as an obstacle in the way of implementing mega projects, saying, " terrorism as a common threat is undermining the security of the whole region and overcoming terrorists'threats requires joint efforts."

The reviving of the historic Silk Road would also be prominently discussed at the RECCA conference as a means to boost trade and economic activities in the region.

Hinting at Beijing's role, Farhang pointed out that China, as a great power and influential country, can bring Afghanistan and Pakistan closer to settling their differences and stabilizing security in the region.

"Reviving the Silk Route is a mega project and Afghanistan would be one of the biggest beneficiaries if realized," the former Afghan commerce minister also stated.

Afghan political observers are looking with optimism towards the RECCA conference and its long-term impact on the economy of the country.

"All the projects to be discussed at the RECCA conference are vital for Afghanistan and the region. Linking regional countries via railways, extraction of minerals and exploration of oil and gas would definitely enhance economic activities in the region," former president of Afghanistan's central bank, Noorullah Dilawari told local media. Endi