The 12th Meeting of the CICA Think Tank Forum (TTF) convened on October 24-25, 2024, under the theme "Asia’s New Role in a Multipolarizing World." Held in Shanghai and hosted by the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS), the event brought together diplomats, scholars, and researchers from CICA Member States, alongside representatives of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
CICA Secretary General, Ambassador Kairat Sarybay, delivered opening remarks, emphasizing the importance of Asia's growing influence in shaping global dynamics. He noted that the region's rapid economic growth and geopolitical significance position it as a key player in the emerging multipolar world. He also praised the CICA TTF as an invaluable platform for intellectual exchanges that enhance regional cooperation, encouraging participants to explore new research initiatives and support collaborative projects.
The Secretary General underscored the special significance of this year's meeting, which coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Declaration on Principles Guiding Relations Among CICA Member States. Ambassador Sarybay reaffirmed CICA's commitment to these principles as the foundation for peace and stability in the region.
Throughout the two-day event, panel discussions focused on key topics such as regional cooperation, security and peace, connectivity, finance, climate change and epidemiology in the context of achieving global sustainable development. Participants engaged in active discussions on CICA’s role as a multilateral mechanism, exploring its unique advantages and the wider concept of forging a new collective Asian identity.
Following the main panel sessions, President Chen facilitated a brainstorming session with TTF members to discuss the draft of the 2025 Annual Action Plan. Ideas shared included proposals for the venue of next year’s annual meeting and strategies for implementing inter-sessional activities, reinforcing the collaborative spirit of the Forum.
The CICA TTF garnered significant media attention, with the Secretary General and Professor Dr. Chen Dongxiao, President of SIIS, giving an exclusive interview to The Paper, Shanghai’s largest digital media outlet.
The Twelfth CICA Think Tank Forum marked another milestone in CICA’s continued efforts to foster cooperation and intellectual engagement across Asia, laying the groundwork for future collaborations that contribute to peace, stability, and development in the region.
