26 June 2024 – Astana, Kazakhstan - In accordance with the directive from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the construction of a dedicated building for the new CICA headquarters has officially commenced. To commemorate this significant milestone in the organization's history, a foundation stone laying ceremony was held at the construction site of the new headquarters, featuring a time capsule containing a message for future CICA Secretariat staff.
Guest speakers included the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazkhstan Alibek Bakayev; the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan Ismatullo Nasredin, and the Director of the Department of Regional Security, Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry Azer Musayev.
The event was also attended by the Chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Security of Mazhilis of Parliament of Kazakhstan Aigul Kuspan, heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Astana, and representatives of international organizations.
CICA Secretary General K. Sarybay emphasized the unique role of CICA as a multilateral platform in his speech. He highlighted the ongoing evolution of CICA, already containing well-structured governing and advisory bodies, into a full-fledged international organization.
Secretary General Sarybay underscored the importance of the new headquarters, not just as a functional space for the Secretariat, but as a symbol of CICA’s permanent commitment to cooperation and dialogue among Asian nations.
K. Sarybay also mentioned plans for the building to incorporate cutting-edge green technologies and a park to promote sustainability, and invited Member States to contribute to the new headquarters’ interior design to reflect the cultural diversity of the CICA region.
Participants then laid a time capsule within the foundation stone of the building, containing a message for future colleagues of the CICA Secretariat. The capsule is intended to be opened in 2049, marking the 50th anniversary of CICA's founding document.
Senior officials from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan, representing the incoming, current, and preceding CICA Chairmanships respectively, along with the CICA Secretary General, held the first-ever consultations under paragraph 14.3.8 of the CICA Rules of Procedure on the eve of the Senior Officials Committee meeting in Astana on 27 June 2024.
The consultations focused on current issues on the CICA agenda, ensuring the continuity of CICA activities, and preparing for a smooth handover of the Chairmanship from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan at the CICA Ministerial Council meeting on 11 November 2024 in Baku.
One of the outcomes of this meeting is the recommendation to continue meetings of the current, previous, and incoming Chairmanships at various levels.
