Beijing: Observing that tensions in Asia and instability in Afghanistan have adversely impacted upon the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) and Economic Co-operation Organisation, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf today (November 2) hoped that the upcoming South Asian regional summit will impart a fresh impetus to enhancing commercial and economic co-operation in the region.

"We are looking forward to the next SAARC summit meeting to be held in Islamabad," said Musharraf in his keynote speech at the opening of the 2003 annual conference of the Boao forum for Asia in southernmost China's Hainan province.

Tensions in Asia and the instability in Afghanistan have adversely impacted upon the two regional organisations dedicated to economic, technological and cultural co-operation, namely the SAARC and the Economic Co-operation Organisation of Central and West Asian countries (ECO), he was quoted as saying by 'Xinhua' news agency.

However, the potential of the two organisations is immense, Musharraf said, adding that they have developed structures for co-operation and have adopted promising proposals.

PTI