Phnom Penh, 30-31 March 2026 – Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), Ambassador Kairat Sarybay held working visit to Cambodia and engaged in a series of meetings with top officials to discuss organization’s strategic priorities and developments during the current Chairmanship of Azerbaijan.
Ambassador Sarybay was graciously received by H.E. Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Acting Head of State, President of the Senate of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The parties had a broad discussion about CICA’s transformation initiated in 2022 and efforts led by Azerbaijani Chairmanship in accelerating its institutional development. H.E. Hun Sen assured high-level participation of Cambodia at the 7th Summit, that will be held in October 2026 in Baku. He also highlighted that international organizations must act as synergistic partners amid current geopolitical tensions.
Mr. Hun Sen pledged Cambodia’s consistent support for multilateral dialogue and stressed that CICA’s shift to a full-fledged international organization is vital to strengthening its global and regional influence building on its more than 30-year legacy of dialogue and confidence building. Recalling the timeliness of Nursultan Nazarbayev’s initiative to convene the Conference, the Cambodian leader noted that CICA should not waste its previous achievement, thus decision on the draft Charter was critical, which would also allow to establish CICA’s international legal personality.
Significantly, Cambodia promised to facilitate the ratification of the 2010 Convention on Privileges and Immunities of the CICA Secretariat and its personnel. Ambassador Sarybay mentioned that only one remaining ratification required for the document’s entry into force. As Cambodia signed the Convention, he welcomed the possibility of Phnom Penh’s expeditious ratification and underscored that this milestone could serve as one of achievements for the upcoming CICA Summit.
Recalling his January visit to ASEAN Headquarters in Jakarta and the very recent participation in the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan, Secretary General Sarybay reaffirmed CICA’s commitment to strategic partnerships with key regional and international organization like the UN, SCO, EAEU, as well as ASEAN.
In a meeting with Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia H.E. Mr. Kan Pharidh, Secretary General Kairat Sarybay further focused on Cambodia’s potential for a greater contribution to practical cooperation within CICA framework. The discussion highlighted several newly established CICA advisory bodies designed to strengthen organization’s institutional capacity: Partnership Network of Leading Universities, Finance Summit and Women Council. With the upcoming inaugural meeting of the Women Council on 14 April 2026, in Baku, Ambassador encouraged Cambodia’s active participation, as well as nomination of its representatives to all three new CICA mechanisms.
The focus on regional cooperation further extended to the environmental agenda, as the parties discussed the upcoming high-level CICA Meeting on Sustainable Development in CICA region, scheduled to take place in Astana on 23 April 2026, during the Regional Ecological Summit, aimed at fostering a regular and structured dialogue on pressing environmental challenges.
As CICA prepares to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of its Secretariat on 17 June 2026, the Secretary General invited the Cambodian side to visit the new CICA Headquarters in Astana. In the spirit of cultural exchange, the Secretariat invited Cambodia to contribute an art piece or decorative element to the new building, showcasing the Kingdom’s rich historical and cultural heritage alongside contributions from other Member States. Secretary General also suggested convening heads of international organizations and forums operating in Asia to mark this special occasion.
During the meeting with Minister of Tourism of Cambodia H.E. Mr. Hout Hak Secretary General highlighted tourism as a vital driver for people-to-people diplomacy, national economic growth and greater connectivity. Ambassador Sarybay expressed appreciation for Cambodia’s active participation in the CICA Tourist Guide and the EcoDestinations projects. The Secretary General further encouraged Cambodia to attend the High-level CICA Conference on Circular Green Tourism in Baku on 23-24 June 2026 and also consider hosting a meeting of tourism authorities from CICA Member States. He also invited Cambodia to leverage its expertise in touristic sphere and become a co-coordinator of the Tourism priority area, joining Tajikistan and Sri Lanka in leading relevant regional initiatives.
The Secretary General expressed gratitude to the Ministry for arranging his tour to Siem Reap to explore the development of tourism infrastructure and learn about local efforts to promote education, capacity building and innovations in the tourism sector.
Prospects for advancement of regional collaboration in sustainable economic development were reviewed during the meeting with H.E. Mr. Heng Sokkung, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovation. Building on their previous encounter in 2024, the two sides focused on the driver role of SMEs, digital innovations, and new technologies. The Secretary General underscored the CICA Business Council as a vital platform for SME-led growth and highlighted its successful meeting in Baku in 2025 dedicated to green transformation and women's entrepreneurship. Ambassador Sarybay further presented “SME Landscape in Asia: Interactive Guidebook”, noting it as a valuable tool for Cambodia to showcase investment opportunities and help businesses navigate government policies.
In Phnom Penh, Ambassador Sarybay also met with H.E. Dr. Sok Siphana, Senior Minister of the Government of Cambodia, candidate to the CICA Council of Eminent Persons, and engaged in a comprehensive exchange of ideas on leveraging CICA’s potential for Asian prosperity and engaging Cambodia in the practical implementation of CBMs.
Secretary General’s further meeting with the leadership of the Asian Vision Institute (AVI) addressed geopolitical challenges and academic influence on policy-making. The sides focused on collaboration between CICA and AVI within the CICA Think Tank Forum (TTF). To strengthen this partnership, Ambassador Sarybay invited AVI to the 14th TTF in New Delhi to join experts in addressing evolving global landscapes.
Secretary General’s visit to Phnom Penh continues a series of his engagements with various partners in Southeast Asia and is in line with Azerbaijan Chairmanship priorities of enhancing CICA’s external partnerships and increasing efficiency of confidence building measures.
