Astana, 4 September 2026 – H.E. Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith, President and General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, visited the Headquarters of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Astana marking a historic milestone in the engagement between the Lao PDR and CICA.
President Thongloun Sisoulith noted that the multifaceted challenges of today's world demand enhanced cooperation among nations. In this context, he commended CICA as a driving force that successfully advances mutual trust and stability, both among its Member States and within the broader global community.
Emphasizing the profound relevance of the organization's multidimensional approach, particularly across political, economic and social, President Sisoulith stated that Laos deeply values CICA’s practical activities. Recognizing the importance of CICA, President signaled Laos's aspiration to elevate its status to a full-fledged Member State, noting that this intent aligns with the foreign policy priorities of the Lao PDR.
Looking ahead to the 7th CICA Summit, President Sisoulith conveyed his strong interest in participating in the upcoming high-level meeting in Baku.
In his remarks, CICA Secretary General Ambassador Kairat Sarybay outlined CICA’s progress from its initiation by Kazakhstan in 1992 to becoming pan-Asian intergovernmental platform uniting 28 Member States and 10 Observer States. He highlighted CICA’s ongoing transformation into a full-fledged international organization, currently being advanced under the Chairmanship of Azerbaijan.
Secretary General Sarybay further recalled negotiations with H.E. Mr. Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos during the first-ever visit to Vientiane in April 2026 and expressed deep appreciation for the country’s commitment to the CICA process as an Observer State since 2017.
Expanding on the organization's broader regional focus, Secretary General Sarybay emphasized the importance of strengthening CICA’s engagement with Southeast Asia and developing dialogue with ASEAN. He underlined that CICA and ASEAN share much in common in their approaches to regional cooperation, including a shared commitment to dialogue, consensus, respect for diversity and practical cooperation. Secretary General highlighted practical steps toward this cooperation including talks with ASEAN Secretary General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn in Jakarta earlier this year and the first CICA-ASEAN online consultations in May 2025.
Pointing to the potential for closer synergy between the two organizations, CICA Secretary General emphasized the unique bridging role of Cambodia, Thailand and Viet Nam through their dual membership.
Accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan H.E. Mr. Mukhtar Tleuberdi, President Thongloun Sisoulith's visit to the CICA Headquarters served as an integral part of his official visit to Kazakhstan.
