Distinguished President of Chulalongkorn University, Professor Wilert Puriwat, D.Phil.,
Excellencies,
Dear students, distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen!
First of all, I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to the leadership of Chulalangkorn University and its Institute of Asian Studies for extending the traditional Thai hospitality and arranging this important event. My special thanks go to Associate Professor Dr. Pavika Sriratanaban and her team for their warm invitation and for selecting a theme that captures one of the defining strategic questions of our time: What is the correlation between corridors and confidence?
It is my honor and pleasure to speak at this historic, top-notch institution striving to join the top ten world-class universities in the future. The concept of "Chula Power of Togetherness" - transforming the university into a global center for innovation through international partnerships as envisaged by the University’s President - aligns with the goals and spirit of CICA. I will elaborate on CICA’s objectives, agenda, institutional capabilities and modus operandi a bit later.
I am delighted to speak at an institution that cultivates intellectual dialogue on Asia’s evolving landscape. Asia today is not merely participating in global transformation – it is shaping it. The center of gravity of economic growth and technological breakthrough has shifted eastward. Trade routes are being recalibrated. Supply chains are diversifying. Connectivity initiatives are multiplying.
Yet, our continent is not immune from regional tensions, economic volatility, technological disruption, and the accelerating impact of climate change. At a time of geopolitical fragmentation, infrastructure alone does not guarantee stability. This is why the theme — From Corridors to Confidence — is both timely and strategic. Because connectivity without confidence can amplify competition; connectivity embedded in trust can reinforce peace.
In this regard, let me elaborate on what added value CICA can bring to the table.
The idea of convening the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia was first proposed by the First President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev in 1992 at the 47th Session of the UN General Assembly. Back then, existing Asian organizations like ASEAN, SAARC and ECO were in the process of finding their niche in the global security and economic architecture. Yet, a pan-Asian platform with a comprehensive approach to security was still in urgent demand. The dismantling of the bipolar world has dramatically increased the potential of medium and small countries, who realized their capacity to play a prominent role in global and regional affairs if they join hands. Today, this process is observed all over the planet, but it is in Asia where it is most visible.
Fast forward more than three decades – today, CICA is a unique multilateral platform, giving equal opportunities to all its 28 members to exchange knowledge and best practices, and make decisions based on consensus. CICA Member States cover 90 percent of Asia and stretch from the Pacific to the Mediterranean Sea and from the Arctic to the Indian Ocean.
Our Member States come from various political, economic and socio-cultural backgrounds. But they work together on a truly equal footing, regardless of their size. CICA is not a bloc: there is no pressure of the strong on the weak. Moreover, some CICA Member States have no diplomatic relations with each other or even mutual diplomatic recognition.
CICA is a flexible structure based on such fundamental principles as inclusiveness, strict consensus and voluntariness. Our Member States sometimes have very different views on certain issues. However, strict adherence to these principles helps them to effectively interact and develop solutions, focusing on what unites rather than divides them.
These principles remain essential as Asia constructs new connectivity corridors. Connectivity is often discussed in terms of asphalt, steel, and fiber optics. But the most resilient 'Corridor' is the one built through intellectual exchange and shared values.
As an emerging dynamic sub-region of CICA, Central Asia has traditionally been described as landlocked. Yet today, it is increasingly land-linked, re-emerging as one of the central elements of the route, known before as historical Silk Way. Stretching from South-East Asia and East Asia through Central Asia, West Asia and onward, the Middle Corridor or Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) is not just a transport route but a crucial element of CICA’s continental connectivity framework. It incorporates rail, road, and maritime transport, linking major economic centers across China, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Europe. The multimodal nature and geographic scope of this route requires maintaining logistics hubs, customs coordination, and trade facilitation mechanisms to improve the efficiency and capabilities of the corridor.
However, infrastructure alone does not guarantee stability. Amid geopolitical fracture and a sweeping shift in security paradigms, inclusiveness and multilateralism are the only viable approaches to peace and prosperity. If corridors are perceived as exclusive or competitive geopolitical instruments, they risk generating mistrust. If embedded in inclusive multilateral frameworks, they generate confidence.
It is probably no coincidence that most of the countries along the Middle Corridor either were CICA Chairs (Kazakhstan, Türkiye, China, and Tajikistan) or is the current CICA Chair (Azerbaijan). Connectivity in a broader context is at the heart of CICA’s philosophy and is among the priorities of both the previous chairmanships and the current Azerbaijani Chairmanship.
This brings us to the current standing of CICA, its achievements and plans that I would like to share with you. Over more than three decades of evolution, CICA has acquired the status, role, structure, functions, modus operandi and other features of a mature organization: founding documents outlining common goals and basic principles; governing bodies; executive body – the Secretariat; permanent advisory bodies and cooperation mechanisms; legal capacity – Convention on the Privileges and Immunities.
The highest decision-making body of CICA is the Council of Heads of State or Government (Summit) convened every four years to conduct consultations, review the progress of, and set priorities for CICA activities. The Ministerial Council is the central forum for examination of all issues related to CICA activities. The Senior Officials Committee (SOC) meets as often as necessary, but not less than twice a year to follow-up on previous decisions, carry out consultations on the current issues, oversee the work of the Special Working Group (SWG) and coordinate the work of other meetings.
To date, CICA has held 6 Summits and 7 formal Ministerials, along with additional or informal ministerial meetings (usually on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly high-level week in New York).
The First CICA Meeting of Foreign Ministers, held in Almaty in 1999, gathered 15 founding countries and adopted the first CICA document - the Declaration on the Principles Guiding Relations between the CICA Member States. These principles correlate in many ways with the provisions of the UN Charter and international law.
The First CICA Summit was held in 2002 and adopted the Almaty Act. The document explicitly declared the determination of the Member States to form in Asia a common and indivisible area of security, where all states co-exist peacefully, and their peoples live in conditions of peace, freedom and prosperity.
So far, these are two founding documents of CICA, outlining its fundamental goals and principles. Currently, the Azerbaijani Chairmanship is leading the deliberations of Member States on the draft Charter expected to be adopted at the Seventh CICA Summit in Baku on October 15, 2026. This milestone is meant to solidify the legal status of CICA as a full-fledged international (intergovernmental) organization, culminating the process of CICA transformation launched by the Sixth Summit in Astana in 2022.
The underlying philosophy of the transformation is clear – to reflect the growing role of Asia in global affairs by elevating the legal and institutional level of CICA as a unique pan-Asian organization. Azerbaijan has centered its Chairmanship around the theme of “connectivity, digitalization and sustainable growth in Asia.” This compelling vision underscores the importance of enhanced cooperation among Member States to address shared challenges while moving towards a transformed CICA as a full-fledged international organization.
Let me brief you on CICA’s broad agenda. The Catalogue of Confidence Building Measures is a one-of-a-kind document for the Asian region, as it covers a broad array of areas while taking into account the diversity and special characteristics of different sub-regions of Asia. It established the principles of voluntariness and gradualness in the practical implementation of CBMs. Thus, CICA Member States agreed to uphold the "simple-to-complex" principle - first building confidence, then establishing full-fledged cooperation, which leads to greater security, which, in turn, is the prerequisite for sustainable development. I believe, this approach somewhat resonates with an ASEAN-way.
All confidence building measures are grouped into 18 priority areas across five dimensions. Each area has its own coordinating Member State and may have several co-coordinators. To date, there are 17 coordinators and 23 co-coordinators (you can see all of them on the screen). So, the modalities of implementing these confidence building measures are quite sophisticated, well-structured and stipulated in a dedicated Ministerial document adopted by the CICA Ministerial Council in December 2024.
For example, Thailand is the coordinator of the Sustainable development priority area within the Environmental Dimension.
As Asia’s economic influence continues to grow on global level, the CICA Economic Dimension has never been more relevant in parallel with other significant dimensions – Environmental, Human, New Challenges and Threats, and Military-Political Dimensions – that remain equally vital in ensuring peace, prosperity and sustainable development across our region.
One of the eight priority areas of CICA’s Economic Dimension particularly relevant to our today’s topic is the “Development of secure and effective systems of transportation corridors”. Transportation corridors are the lifeblood of trade between Asia and the rest of the world. These routes do more than just move goods; they boost local markets, enhance national economies, and build the physical trust required for a safe, multimodal transport system. As the coordinator for this priority area, Azerbaijan has proposed specific directions to modernize Asia’s transit architecture. This includes infrastructure synergy to overview capacity, smart logistics using digital platforms, and 'Paperless Trade' through Intelligent Transport Systems. The Azerbaijani Chairmanship in CICA also focuses on green transport by training personnel in environmentally friendly and smart technologies.
Another area is “Energy security” – a foundation of economic development and regional stability. Our Member States focus on creating harmony between producers, consumers, and transit states; encourage market mechanisms to prevent crises, develop technologies for renewable resources, and work together to build new energy corridors and stockpiling facilities. Securing maritime energy supply chains remains a top priority for CICA Member States.
“Trade and investment” is another priority area of the Economic Dimension, along with “Tourism” – an effective tool for 'people-to-people' contacts. By developing cultural routes like Silk Road tours and promoting sustainable eco-tourism, CICA Member States preserve their cultural heritage while bringing our nations closer together. The Secretariat has published two compilations – Ecotourism Guidebook – highlighting the diverse cultural and natural heritage of the CICA Member States.
With half the world’s population, CICA Member States prioritize the stability of food supply chains within the framework of the “Agriculture” priority area. They exchange best practices in 'Smart Farming' and irrigation, reducing trade barriers for agricultural products along the Middle Corridor, and protecting crops from climate disasters. Harmonizing food standards is essential to boosting agricultural exports among our Member States.
“Information Technology” is the foundation of public life and economic growth. CICA Member States focus on policy harmonization and sharing experiences to regulate the convergence of networks, while coordinating their responses to cyber threats and piracy to ensure a safe internet environment for the public. Connecting countries requires connecting their governments digitally through an E-Government pillar. The aim is to increase efficiency by implementing network technologies for intra-governmental communication and capacity building. By facilitating the exchange of legally significant documents and services, our Member States are bridging the 'digital divide' and making government services more accessible and inclusive.
However, rapid digitalization also creates new security concerns. At the Sixth Summit in Astana, CICA leaders adopted a dedicated Statement on Cooperation in the Field of Security of and in the Use of Information and Communication Technologies, having recognized that ICTs influence every component of national security. This vital issue has become a separate priority area of the New Challenges and Threats Dimension, thereby demonstrating the cross-sectoral nature of CICA’s agenda.
Indeed, many aspects of interaction in the Economic Dimension are cross-sectoral, also covering the issues of environment, social development and humanitarian interaction. Enhancing the impact of CBMs in key areas of interaction and improving synergies between efforts of the Member States, coordinators and co coordinators of CBMs, and relevant CICA bodies is one of the innovative approaches of the Azerbaijani Chairmanship.
Furthermore, CICA has a number of permanent advisory bodies and mechanisms: Business Council, Youth Council, Think Tank Forum, Council of Eminent Persons, Partnership Network of Leading Universities, Women Council, Finance Summit, and CICA Fund
One of the first two permanent institutions established by CICA in 2014 is the Business Council, which includes representatives of business associations and government agencies of the Member States. It focuses on promoting economic cooperation among Member States in the area of SMEs. SMEs are the backbone of the 'New Map of Asia,' particularly along its transportation corridors. Having chaired the Council’s Board, Azerbaijan’s Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA) has been focusing the work of this CICA institution not only on SMEs, but also investment, business and trade in a broader context. At the last plenary session in Baku in May 2025, the Business Council members exchanged views on how to empower SMEs through digitalization, women’s entrepreneurship, and green transition, while covering SMEs’ role in developing smart cities, cross-border trade and e-commerce, and SMEs’ engagement in global value chains. Obviously, connectivity is at the heart of these joint efforts.
Another CICA institution advancing cooperation within the Economic Dimension is the Finance Summit. Established in September 2025 under the leadership of the Azerbaijani Chairmanship, the CICA Finance Summit serves as an advisory body, promoting cooperation among Member States in the financial sector with a view to enhancing financial stability, fostering sustainable economic development, and contributing to shared prosperity across the CICA region.
No less dynamic is CICA’s Human Dimension. An excellent opportunity to interact and exchange best practices for the younger generation of Asia can be provided by the CICA Youth Council. In November 2025 in Baku the 8th meeting of the Youth Council gathered more than 100 participants from 19 CICA Member States. The creative essay contest and AI in Art competition attracted nearly 600 works submitted by the young talents from the CICA region and their winners were granted an exciting tour to Baku. Later this year the Chairmanship will host the 9th Youth Council meeting and is launching three more youth contests: "Innovate CICA" Youth Award, Youth Speech and Debate Competition, and Youth Robotics Competition, all of which you are more than welcome to take part in.
Joint research and educational programs and projects, scientific cooperation and academic exchange among CICA Member States on transport connectivity or any other topic of mutual concern can also be carried out through another CICA institution – Partnership Network of Leading Universities (PNLU). Launched a year ago, PNLU is aimed at strengthening academic cooperation, uniting 190 universities across 12 Member States under a Coordination Council chaired by Azerbaijan’s ADA University. It is quite unique that Chula’s Institute of Asian Studies is a member of both the TTF and the PNLU, which demonstrates the significance and strength of your institution. I hope that more Member States will follow suit and nominate their leading universities to the network. For the students here today, the PNLU is not just a network of institutions – it is your gateway to research collaborations that will define the 'New Map of Asia.'
The establishment of the CICA Women Council in September 2025 under the initiative of the Azerbaijan Chairmanship has been instrumental in institutionalizing cooperation among Member States on women’s issues. Acting as a dedicated advisory body, the Council fosters dialogue, facilitates the exchange of best practices, and advances practical cooperation on gender equality and women’s and girl’s empowerment across the CICA region.
Furthermore, the leading think tanks and experts of CICA Member States have an opportunity to exchange their expertise and research on that broad topic through our Think Tank Forum (TTF). It is a network of 23 leading research institutions providing the analytical 'blueprint' for regional governance, with the Institute of Asian Studies being an active contributor to the TTF activities. The TTF plays a special role among the advisory bodies of CICA: its status and composition enable addressing an almost unlimited range of issues, while the ideas and recommendations developed by the TTF analysts have great potential for study by the Member States and transition into concrete actions.
Moreover, research projects on connectivity or any other projects on broader topics of development, CBM implementation, R&D and humanitarian aid can be sponsored through the CICA Fund – a special mechanism for identification of CICA projects and mobilization of voluntary funding for their implementation. The Regulations of the Fund adopted in 2022 by the Sixth Summit establish the first ever modalities for CICA’s project activities and serve as a basis for further development of CICA operational capacities to strengthen its practical impact.
In March 2025, the Project Review Committee of the CICA Fund approved its first project supporting 300 Afghan farmers with seeds, fertilizers and extension services amid an agricultural crisis. The project was proposed by Kazakhstan, funded jointly by the CICA Fund, Islamic Organization for Food Security and Türkiye. Two more projects are currently at different stages of consideration: one on empowering youth of CICA Member States for Climate Action through Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) proposed by Bangladesh and another one on Capacity Building for Afghan Civil Servants. I am sincerely grateful to Iraq and Bangladesh for donating the first funds to this important CICA mechanism bringing tangible results for those in need. In this regard, the expertise and best practices of Thailand International Cooperation Agency are quite valuable and could also be utilized.
Ladies and gentlemen!
One of the key priorities of the Azerbaijani Chairmanship is to increase the international visibility and influence of CICA through building synergy and interaction with other international and regional platforms. CICA has established partnership with a number of international organizations seeking support for its efforts to promote peace, security and prosperity in Asia. Overall, CICA has 5 Observer Organizations and 6 Partner Organizations.
The United Nations has held observer status with CICA since 2002. In turn, CICA was granted observer status in the UN General Assembly (UNGA Resolution 62/77 adopted on 6 December 2007). CICA and the UN maintain a relationship characterized by mutual support, regular high-level engagement and alignment on shared global priorities, particularly in the areas of counter-terrorism, regional security and sustainable development.
Many other multilateral structures have been showing interest in interacting and building partnerships with CICA.
UN ESCAP is one of them. Both sides agreed to explore a joint project to support the process of moving towards greater partnership. I am sincerely grateful to my dear colleague - Executive Secretary Armida Alisjahbana for inviting me to their annual events here in Bangkok. This year was not an exception, and I hope that these engagements will serve as a basis for further successful collaboration between CICA and ESCAP.
ASEAN is another major regional organization willing to enhance cooperation with CICA. We sustain regular exchanges with the ASEAN Secretariat to identify thematic areas for practical cooperation.
Dear friends!
As our Member States transform CICA into a full-fledged international organization, they aren't just building a bureaucracy; they are building a platform for your generation. I invite you – the future diplomats, engineers, and scholars of Thailand – to engage with TTF, PNLU, Youth Council and other CICA advisory bodies. The 'Chula Power of Togetherness' is exactly the energy CICA needs to turn corridors of trade into corridors of lasting peace.
Thank you. I am ready to take questions, if any.
