15 October 2026, Baku
Distinguished Heads of Delegations,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!
I wish to express my profound appreciation to H.E. President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan for his wise leadership and vision in steering the Chairmanship, and for affording the CICA Secretary General the honour of addressing a CICA Summit.
Let me sincerely thank H.E. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan for placing his trust in me by nominating for the position of the first CICA Secretary General. I am also deeply grateful to all Member States: your commitment to multilateral diplomacy in our unique pan-Asian organization has been a constant source of inspiration throughout my service.
CICA remains attractive to new countries seeking to join our noble family of Asian nations. This was evident when Kuwait joined CICA in 2022 and is evident today when Lao PDR became a new Member State. Let me join the distinguished Heads of Delegations in congratulating H.E. President Thongloun Sisoulith on this historic milestone.
Your Excellencies!
Since the adoption of the Astana Statement on CICA Transformation, significant progress has been achieved across many areas.
CICA has substantially matured; its institutional framework has expanded considerably: since 2022, four new advisory bodies and mechanisms have been established and operationalized.
With enhanced modalities for CBM implementation, CICA’s modus operandi has allowed our Member States to engage in practical cooperation to deliver tangible results. This is evidenced by the quality and quantity of confidence-building events: nearly 100 events across all five dimensions have been conducted over the last four years.
CICA has demonstrated the capacity of its Member States to forge consensus and reach negotiated outcomes in adopting political declarations and thematic documents, such as the two documents of this Summit.
CICA’s legal personality will be substantially reinforced by the forthcoming entry into force of the Convention on Privileges and Immunities following its recent ratification by Cambodia. At the same time, Kazakhstan’s ratification of the Amendments to the Host Country Agreement last year paved the way for strengthening CICA’s institutional and legal foundations.
In this regard, let me reiterate my gratitude to the President of the CICA Host County - H.E. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev - for providing us with the magnificent Headquarters built in accordance with ESG principles. I am also grateful to Member States for contributing their works of art to the CICA Headquarters, reflecting the diverse spirit of Asia and turning it into a temple of Asian diplomacy. The recent presentation of the Garabagh Horse sculpture by the Azerbaijani Chairmanship has further enriched the CICA Headquarters and stands as a symbol of friendship, trust and rich cultural heritage. And for this may I reiterate my heartfelt gratitude to H.E. President Ilham Aliyev!
My sincere thanks go to CICA Member States for their material and in-kind support. Over the 20 years since its establishment, the CICA Secretariat has received financial contributions from 18 Member States and secondees from 8 countries. Today, 7 nationalities are represented in our international staff.
Last but not least, I sincerely thank Member States for approving the Secretariat’s new Staff Matrix – another practical manifestation of Member States’ ownership of CICA and contribution to its institutional capacity.
Your Excellencies!
As I conclude my six-year tenure, I extend my best wishes to the incoming Secretary General. I humbly request all Member States to extend their full trust and support to my successor, ensuring continuity and the Secretariat’s efficient service to Member States.
It has been my highest honour to serve CICA, and I stand ready to provide any further assistance, should it be needed.
I thank you.
