Seoul, 13 May 2026 – The Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), Ambassador Kairat Sarybay visited Seoul to discuss institutional transformation of the organization and South Korea’s continuous engagement within CICA.
At the Foreign Ministry, Secretary General Kairat Sarybay met with Deputy Minister for political affairs Ms. Eui-hae Cicilia Chung and explored ongoing evolution of the organization under the current Azerbaijani Chairmanship. Ahead of the 7th CICA Summit, to be held in Baku in October 2026, the talks highlighted CICA’s development into a full-fledged regional structure well-equipped with permanent institutions and advisory mechanisms. Secretary General Sarybay outlined the work of Finance Summit, Women Council, Youth Council, Business Council and Partnership Network of Leading Universities and invited Korea to expand its participation across these emerging platforms. Additionally, Secretary General encouraged the Korean side to utilize the potential of the CICA Fund to promote its international cooperation and assistance efforts.
Furthermore, Secretary General Sarybay expressed appreciation for Korea’s continuous support of CICA's multilateral efforts and its regular voluntary financial contributions, which remain essential to the effective work and ongoing activities of the Secretariat.
Turning to sectoral interaction and implementation of confidence building measures, Secretary General Sarybay commended Korea’s leadership as a coordinator in the priority areas of Energy Security and Information Technology. Recognizing ecological issues as a growing concern uniting shared responsibility, the conversation also covered the recent high-level meeting on climate change and sustainable development in Astana.
Continuing the focus on expanding CICA’s institutional mechanisms, the Secretary General Sarybay held meeting with Amb. Choe Hyoung-chan, Chancellor of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA).
Highlighting the critical role of the CICA Think Tank Forum (TTF), he suggested that KNDA could officially join the network and participate in the 14th TTF in New Delhi this September. Secretary General Sarybay noted that as CICA transforms, the research and analytical support from esteemed institutions like KNDA will be essential in guiding CICA’s long-term policies on sustainability, digital transformation, and regional security.
Moreover, at KNDA the Secretary General visited the Diplomatic archives exhibition depicting the most notable achievements and landmarks of the South Korean foreign service.
In Seoul, Secretary General Sarybay also met with Mr. Joohyeon Baik, Special Envoy of the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and nominee to the CICA Council of Eminent Persons. The two sides exchanged views on the current regional situation and the ongoing CICA transformation process. During the conversation, both diplomats underscored the critical importance of building stronger economic ties and enhancing connectivity as key drivers for advancing confidence, security, and cooperation across Asia.
