Expert of the CICA Secretariat Ambassador Doulat Kuanyshev visited Sri Lanka to attend the first Central Asia Forum hosted by Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the “Geopolitical Cartographer” – a research foundation based in Colombo. During the visit, Ambassador Doulat Kuanyshev was received by Hon M.U.M. Ali Sabry, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, and had a meeting with Ambassador Ravinatha P. Aryasinha, Executive Director of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKI), which is a member of the CICA Think Tank Forum.
At the Central Asia Forum, Ambassador Kuanyshev delivered remarks at the Round Table discussion on “Strategic Role of Central Asia in Eurasia and Beyond: The Emergence of New Transport and Logistics Corridors” and a panel discussion on “Central Asia in Focus”. His speech was preceded by the welcome remarks by Mr. Rishan de Silva, Executive Director of the “Geopolitical Cartographer” and the opening address by Ms. Aruni Wijewardane, Foreign Secretary of Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In his address on behalf of the CICA Secretary General Ambassador Kairat Sarybay, the expert of the CICA Secretariat emphasized the increasingly important role of multilateral institutions amidst current disruptions of economic ties and other global and regional challenges. In this context, he highlighted the opportunities that CICA, as a unique multilateral platform for interaction, dialogue and cooperation, provides its Member States. Moreover, Ambassador Kuanyshev noted the growing significance of Central Asia for the global economic actors, given the region’s geostrategic position.
The Forum was attended by Sri Lanka’s senior diplomats and academic and business communities, as well as representatives of local Embassies of Central Asian states.
During his conversation with Minister Ali Sabry, Ambassador Kuanyshev expressed gratitude for the unwavering support for the CICA process and updated the distinguished Minister on the implementation of the Kazakh Chairmanship priorities, preparation for the 7th Ministerial Council meeting in Baku on 19 December 2024 and other key events scheduled for this year. The two diplomats followed up on some key agreements reached during the visit of the CICA Secretary General to Sri Lanka in February 2024.
At the meeting with Ambassador Kuanyshev, Ambassador Ravinatha P. Aryasinha, Executive Director of the LKI was briefed on CICA’s current and future activities and events. The interlocutors explored ways to enhance the work of the Think Tank Forum, including its intersessional activities, and discussed existing opportunities for the Member States to project their agenda using the diverse institutional capacities of CICA.
