Astana, 17 June 2026 – The Secretariat of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) celebrated its 20th anniversary today, marking two decades since its formal establishment in Almaty in 2006. The commemorative event brought together representatives of CICA Member States and the diplomatic corps accredited in Astana, alongside officials from the Presidential Administration, Parliament and Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, to honor the Secretariat’s evolution into a dynamic pillar of the CICA process. The event was also attended by the participants of the Roundtable of executive structures of regional organizations in Asia held earlier on 17 June, as well as the former Executive Directors of the Secretariat.
In his welcoming remarks, CICA Secretary General Ambassador Kairat Sarybay extended his profound gratitude to the Republic of Kazakhstan for its dedicated role as the host nation, noting that the Secretariat’s modern headquarters in Astana serves as a tangible testament to the visionary support and commitment of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The Secretary General also expressed sincere appreciation to the Azerbaijani Chairmanship, under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, for its invaluable contribution to the ongoing transformation of CICA into a full-fledged international organization – a process initiated at the 2022 Astana Summit and now being actively advanced toward the upcoming Baku Summit.
Secretary General Sarybay further highlighted that the Secretariat’s evolution is, above all, a collective achievement. He underscored that the institution’s success is built upon the unwavering support and contribution of all Member States that have enabled the Secretariat to significantly expand its reach and institutional framework. This progress is evidenced by the growing geographic scope of CICA’s engagement, updating the Catalogue of Confidence-Building Measures and development of the framework of advisory bodies and CBMs implementation mechanism.
Secretary General Sarybay presented a commemorative book chronicling two decades of the Secretariat's history. Featuring contributions from current and former Chairmanships, partners and the individuals who have shaped the institution, the volume serves as both a testament to past achievements and an inspiration for the future of multilateralism in Asia.
Representing the host country, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan H.E. Yermek Kosherbayev addressed the gathering, reaffirming Kazakhstan’s long-standing commitment to the initiative since its 1992 launch at the UN General Assembly. Foreign Minister Kosherbayev emphasized CICA’s growing relevance in today’s challenging global landscape, underscoring its role as a vital platform for middle powers to drive dialogue, build consensus, and maintain a constructive balance of interests.
Building on this momentum, the Minister highlighted the ongoing negotiations on the CICA Charter as a historic opportunity to provide the organization with a solid legal foundation. In this regard, he expressed deep appreciation to the Azerbaijani Chairmanship for its dedicated efforts in advancing the transformation process and ensuring impactful outcomes at the upcoming Seventh CICA Summit in Baku.
During the opening of the event, guests were presented with a video retrospective and a photo exhibition chronicling the key milestones of the organization’s development and the Secretariat’s evolution over the past two decades. The evening also featured a showcase of national cuisines from CICA Member States – Azerbaijan, China, India, Israel, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan, further emphasizing the importance of cultural enrichment alongside political cooperation.
The commemorative evening served as the culmination of a series of events dedicated to the 20th anniversary, encompassing both academic and outreach dimensions. Earlier in the day, a roundtable of executive structures of regional organizations fostered substantive dialogue on multilateral cooperation, while previous commemorative activities, including academic lecture and sports diplomacy events like football tournament and bicycle ride, which all highlighted CICA’s role in promoting unity and people-to-people ties.
The full text of the statement by the CICA Secretary General Ambassador Kairat Sarybay
The full text of the statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev
Photo gallery of the reception
