Baku, 12 November 2025 — The Chairmanship of Azerbaijan, represented by the Ministry of Youth and Sport of the Republic of Azerbaijan, with the support of the Secretariat of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), hosted the 8th CICA Youth Council meeting in Baku under the theme “Youth Action for a Sustainable Future in the CICA Region.”
The meeting brought together more than one hundred participants, including representatives of government authorities responsible for youth policy, diplomatic missions, youth organizations, and youth delegates from 19 CICA Member States. Discussions focused on youth empowerment, volunteerism, digital transformation and intercultural dialogue as key elements in advancing sustainable development across Asia.
In his opening statement, Minister of Youth and Sport of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Farid Gayibov reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s strong commitment to promoting youth cooperation within the CICA framework and recognized the Youth Council as a vital platform for dialogue, innovation and leadership.
Delivering his welcoming remarks, CICA Secretary General Ambassador Kairat Sarybay stressed that youth are “not only the future but also the present driving force of change across Asia.” He commended the Azerbaijani Chairmanship for prioritizing youth cooperation within CICA’s human dimension and highlighted the essential role of young people in promoting peace, trust, and sustainable development. Ambassador Sarybay also encouraged Member States to share best practices in volunteerism and innovative youth engagement, contributing to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He announced the forthcoming CICA e-publication to showcase impactful initiatives in this area, to be presented at a CICA side event during the UN High-Level Political Forum in 2026, dedicated to the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development. Read the full text of the statement of the CICA Secretary General: https://s-cica.org/index.php?view=page&t=speeches&id=370
During the plenary session, the heads of national delegations underlined the importance of CICA and other multilateral platforms in fostering youth development, sharing experiences and launching new joint initiatives for youth empowerment across the region.
The meeting culminated in the adoption of the Recommendations of the 8th CICA Youth Council, which outlined practical steps to strengthen youth mobility, foster innovation, and enhance digital skills for sustainable growth. The Recommendations encouraged Member States to expand youth exchanges and volunteering programmes, facilitate youth participation in regional and global forums, and promote national initiatives leveraging artificial intelligence and emerging technologies for social good.
By adopting these Recommendations, the CICA Youth Council reaffirmed its role as a dynamic regional mechanism for empowering young people to contribute to a more peaceful, trusting and sustainable Asia.
The meeting also featured an award ceremony honouring the winners of the CICA Essay Competition and the CICA Artificial Intelligence Art Competition, whose creative works and reflections embodied the spirit of innovation, dialogue, and cooperation championed by CICA. Winners from Iran, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh received certificates and commemorative prizes from Minister Farid Gayibov and Ambassador Kairat Sarybay.
On the margins of the meeting, Ambassador Sarybay held a bilateral meeting with Minister Gayibov to discuss ways of strengthening cooperation on youth development under the Azerbaijani Chairmanship. The counterparts exchanged views on advancing joint initiatives to empower young people and promote their meaningful engagement across the CICA region.
The programme will include a series of events held under the auspices of the Youth Council — “SDGs in Action”, the Rally of Volunteer Movement Leaders, and the CICA Youth Brainstorming Competition — as well as cultural tours around Baku and to the city of Shusha.
