The CICA Member States reaffirmed their commitment to the advancement of CICA process for the benefit of dialogue and cooperation in Asia.
On December 11, 2020, the Senior Officials Committee (SOC) meeting was virtually held under the Chairmanship of the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr. Shakhrat Nuryshev.
Amid the ongoing outbreak of a new coronavirus in the world, the Member States shared their experience in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and discussed prospects for cooperation and measures of mutual support within the CICA framework. In their statements, all meeting participants stressed the need for ensuring equal access to vaccines.
The Member States supported the proposal of the Chairmanship to include cooperation in the field of epidemiological safety, public health and pharmaceuticals into the CICA Catalogue of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs).
At the same time, given the positive effect demonstrated in the fight against COVID-19, People's Republic of China in the framework of international anti-epidemic interaction proposed to include "Traditional Medicine" into the Human Dimension of CICA.
Delegates took note of the report of Executive Director of CICA Secretariat, Ambassador Kairat Sarybay, on implementation of Confidence Building Measures and activities of CICA in 2020.
During the meeting, delegations considered the issues related to further institutionalization of CICA and the updating of the CICA documentation. Moreover, meeting participants discussed a number of Secretariat's proposals concerning the improvement of legal framework.
Heads of delegations adopted the Plan on implementation of CBMs and the Secretariat's Budget for 2021.
At the end of the meeting, the participants agreed to hold the next SOC meeting in the first half of 2021.
In conclusion, the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr. Shakhrat Nuryshev, commended all participants for their constructive approach and encouraged Member States to actively cooperate in the implementation of Confidence Building Measures in the upcoming period within the CICA framework.
