28 November 2025 — The Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), Ambassador Kairat Sarybay, participated in the 29th Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), held in an online format. The session, chaired by H.E. Yermek Kosherbayev, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the ECO Chair for 2025, brought together the Foreign Ministers and high-ranking representatives of Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Türkiye.
Opening the proceedings, H.E. Yermek Kosherbayev highlighted the deepening synergy between CICA and the ECO and underscored the essential role of regional organizations in promoting economic cooperation and sustainable development across Asia.
Building on this message, CICA Secretary General, in his statement, emphasized the strong convergence of priorities between the two platforms in fostering dialogue, trust, peace, economic resilience and regional connectivity. Ambassador Sarybay extended warm congratulations to the ECO on the occasion of ECO Day and expressed sincere appreciation to H.E. Yermek Kosherbayev for his effective leadership in guiding the 29th ECO Council of Ministers Meeting.
The Secretary General then presented key milestones in CICA’s institutional development, noting the establishment of CICA Finance Summit and CICA Women Council, as well as continued progress within CICA’s environmental dimension. In this context, he further underscored the growing importance of transport connectivity, reaffirming that the establishment of the CICA Council on Sustainable Connectivity remains a priority consistently upheld by both the previous and current CICA Chairs.
Turning to economic cooperation, he reviewed recent achievements, including the outcomes of the CICA Business Council and the successful implementation of the first CICA Fund project supporting Afghan farmers. The Secretary General also commended the substantive results of the ECO Summit held in July 2025 in Khankendi, expressing appreciation to the ECO Chair and all participating delegations for their sustained commitment to strengthening regional cooperation and development.
