Ankara, 12–13 February 2026 — The Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), H.E. Ambassador Kairat Sarybay, paid a working visit to Ankara, during which he held series of substantive and forward-looking meetings with senior officials and key stakeholders, aimed at advancing CICA’s transformation agenda and strengthening its economic, institutional and analytical pillars.
In the course of the visit, H.E. Ambassador Kairat Sarybay held in-depth consultations with Mrs. Berris Ekinci, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye. The Secretary General expressed appreciation for Türkiye’s sustained political, financial and institutional support to CICA, including its active role as a founding Member State and a major contributor to the activities of the organization. The sides exchanged views on the ongoing transformation process, progress in discussions on the draft CICA Charter and prospects for Türkiye’s proactive engagement across CICA advisory bodies and confidence building measures, including in the military-political, economic, youth and analytical dimensions.
The economic dimension of cooperation featured prominently in the programme of the visit. In this context, the Secretary General met with Mr. Mustafa Tuzcu, Deputy Minister of Trade of Türkiye. The discussion highlighted the centrality of trade, investment, SME development and economic connectivity in contemporary diplomacy. The Secretary General welcomed Türkiye’s longstanding support to CICA, including its contributions to institutional development and capacity-building initiatives. Both sides reached preliminary understanding on organizing CICA Business Council meeting and Business Forum in Türkiye, aiming to foster practical cooperation, government-business engagement and B2B interaction among Member States.
The economic track was further elaborated during meetings with Türkiye’s key institutions supporting SME development and international assistance. In talks with Mr. Ahmet Serdar İbrahimcioğlu, President of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization of Türkiye (KOSGEB), the Secretary General reviewed the current and prospective agenda of the CICA Business Council, discussed opportunities for capacity building through targeted training programmes. Particular attention was devoted to the role of digital platforms in enhancing SME resilience, innovation and cross-border cooperation across the CICA region, as well as to aligning SME initiatives with CICA priorities, including sustainability and the green transition.
Within the framework of development cooperation, the Secretary General met with Mr. Abdullah Eren, President of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA). The sides underscored the strong alignment of priorities in promoting sustainable development, resilience and institutional capacity, and explored practical avenues for expanding project-based cooperation within the framework of the CICA Fund. Both meetings reaffirmed the shared commitment to advancing inclusive growth and strengthening cooperation across the CICA region.
The institutional and analytical dimension of cooperation was addressed during the meeting with Dr. Polat Safi, Chairman of the Center for Strategic Research of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye. The discussions focused on the role of strategic research and archival materials in diplomacy and regional security. The Secretary General emphasized the importance of exchanging analytical materials through the Think Tank Forum to strengthen confidence building and institutionalization of the organization in the region. Building on this, the Center proposed developing joint research and publications on relevant topics, ensuring adherence to academic standards. Both sides expressed their commitment to continue cooperation, advancing joint studies and publications to reinforce regional engagement in Asia.
As part of the programme, the Secretary General met with H.E. Sok Chea, Ambassador of Cambodia to Türkiye. The exchange reaffirmed Cambodia’s support for CICA’s transformation into a full fledged international organization and addressed preparations for the Seventh CICA Summit in 2026, as well as Cambodia’s continued engagement in institutional development and confidence building activities.
The working visit to Ankara reaffirmed the shared commitment of CICA and Türkiye to advancing dialogue, strengthening institutional foundations and promoting inclusive cooperation across the region, in line with CICA’s evolving role as a pan-Asian platform for confidence building and sustainable development.
