Photo taken on July 12, 2017 shows a session of the 22nd World Petroleum Congressin Istanbul, Turkey. Mohammed Barkindo, secretary-general of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), said on Wednesday that he is optimistic about oil stocks declining further to heighten the prices at the second half of this year. (Xinhua Photo)

ISTANBUL, July 13 (Xinhua) -- The 22nd World Petroleum Congress concluded on Thursday in Istanbul with high hopes for developing new cooperation in the future.

"The congress constituted a great opportunity for developing new cooperation," Jozsef Laszlo Toth, president of the World Petroleum Council, said at the closing ceremony following five-day extensive discussions.

"We want to build new bridges in the coming years," he added.

The Istanbul congress launched under the theme of "bridges to our energy future" was aimed at addressing important issues and challenges facing the oil and gas sector, namely non-conventional gas explorations, climate change, carbon emissions and the fluctuations in oil prices.

The next congress will be held in the U.S. city of Houston in 2020.

Addressing the closing ceremony, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner praised the congress in Istanbul and said, "They set the bar very high for the series in Houston."

Around 3,000 delegates from more than 90 countries attended the congress, including heads of state, ministers, government officials as well as representatives from the sector and international organizations.

The World Petroleum Congress, the largest gathering for the industry, is organized every three years by the London-based World Petroleum Council and includes 65 member countries from around the world, representing over 96 percent of the global oil and gas production and consumption.