A/RES/67/16 86. Welcomes, in this regard, the increased efforts by the Government of Afghanistan, its neighbouring and regional partners and international organizations to foster trust and cooperation with each other, as well as recent cooperation initiatives developed by the countries concerned and regional organizations; 87. Also welcomes the holding of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in the Heart of Asia, encourages Afghanistan and its regional partners to actively endeavour to implement confidence-building measures, welcomes the recent efforts undertaken to further develop confidence-building measures in the areas of disaster management, counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, chambers of commerce, commercial opportunities, regional infrastructure and education within the framework set out in the Istanbul Process on Regional Security and Cooperation for a Secure and Stable Afghanistan,4 adopted on 2 November 2011 and reinforced in the follow-up Heart of Asia Ministerial Conference, held in Kabul on 14 June 2012, which set out a framework for consultations on confidence-building measures in the region, further welcomes the progress made towards the implementation of the confidence-building measures and also the discussion on the confidencebuilding measures action plans, as presented during senior official meetings, the most recent of which was held in Ankara on 18 October 2012, and notes that the Istanbul Process is intended to complement and cooperate with, and not substitute for, existing efforts of regional organizations, particularly where they relate to Afghanistan; 88. Expresses its appreciation for all efforts to increase regional economic cooperation aimed at promoting economic cooperation between Afghanistan, regional neighbours, international partners and financial institutions, and recognizes, inter alia, the important role of the Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan, the Delhi Investment Summit on Afghanistan of 28 June 2012 and its recommendations for promoting foreign investment and private sector development and partnerships of Afghanistan, the Economic Cooperation Organization, the Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation Programme and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, as well as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in promoting the development of Afghanistan; 89. Welcomes the decision of the States members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to grant Afghanistan observer status in the Organization; 90. Welcomes and urges further efforts to strengthen the process of regional economic cooperation, including measures to facilitate regional trade and transit, including through regional and bilateral transit trade agreements, expanded consular visa cooperation and facilitation of business travel, to expand trade, to increase foreign investments and to develop infrastructure, including infrastructural connectivity, energy supply, transport and integrated border management, with a view to promoting sustainable economic growth and the creation of jobs in Afghanistan, noting the historical role of Afghanistan as a land bridge in Asia; 91. Encourages the Group of Eight countries to continue to stimulate and support cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbours through mutual consultation and agreement, including on development projects in areas such as infrastructural connectivity, border management and economic development; Counter-narcotics 92. Welcomes the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan in fighting drug production in Afghanistan, takes note of the report of the United Nations Office on 18