Astana, 22 October 2025 — The Secretariat of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) convened a working meeting at the new CICA Headquarters, attended by Ambassadors and representatives of the CICA Observer States — Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Turkmenistan. The meeting served as a platform to share updates on recent developments under the Azerbaijani Chairmanship, ongoing institutional transformation and the future priorities of CICA.
In his welcoming remarks, CICA Secretary General Ambassador Kairat Sarybay extended a warm greeting to participants and expressed appreciation for their continued engagement and support. He noted that the new Headquarters, generously provided by the Host Country — the Republic of Kazakhstan — and adorned with contributions from Member States, embodies the true spirit of multilateralism and collective progress within the CICA family. The inauguration of the building on 2 July 2025, he emphasized, marked a new milestone in reaffirming the long-term commitment of Member States to fostering dialogue, trust and cooperation across Asia.
Ambassador Sarybay went on to highlight major developments in CICA’s work since the handover of Chairmanship from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan in December 2024, which ushered in new momentum under the theme “Stronger CICA: Connectivity, Digitalization and Sustainable Growth in Asia.” He outlined the progress achieved in the implementation of the Astana Statement on CICA Transformation (2022) and the Road Map for Transformation (2023), noting that the first reading of the draft CICA Charter was completed by mid-2025.
CICA Secretary General also reviewed the outcomes of the recent Ministerial Council meeting, which adopted key regulations establishing the CICA Finance Summit and Women Council, alongside commemorative statements marking the 80th anniversaries of the end of World War II and the founding of the United Nations. He underlined that these achievements, together with the work of the organization’s advisory bodies — the Business Council, Think Tank Forum, Youth Council, Council of Eminent Persons and the Partnership Network of Leading Universities — reaffirm CICA’s growing institutional maturity and relevance.
Touching upon practical cooperation, Ambassador Sarybay pointed to the successful launch of the CICA Fund, a mechanism designed to identify and support CICA-based projects. The Fund’s first initiative — promoting sustainable wheat cultivation in Central Afghanistan — is being implemented jointly with the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), serving as a tangible example of CICA’s capacity to deliver real-world results.
Additionally, the CICA Secretary General presented a report on cooperation with other international organizations and platforms, which served as a basis for discussions on future prospects for collaboration.
The Observers conveyed appreciation for the invitation to participate in the meeting and commended the Secretariat’s comprehensive work and the Secretary General’s informative briefing. They demonstrated strong interest in taking part in CICA’s forthcoming events and project activities, and voiced support for enhancing cooperation with other international and regional organizations, such as ASEAN, in the spirit of complementarity and partnership. The participants also welcomed the prospect of reciprocal visits and continued exchanges during the Secretary General’s engagements in their respective capitals, aimed at further advancing shared objectives of dialogue, connectivity and sustainable growth across Asia.
Concluding the meeting, the Secretary General welcomed the interest shown by the Observers and emphasized their integral role in CICA’s activities, encouraging their continued engagement in joint initiatives that contribute to confidence building, regional cooperation and lasting peace in Asia.
