The demanding issue of the fight against coronavirus has brought together the experts and scholars from CICA Member States at the 8th Roundtable of the CICA Think Tank Forum under the title "Asian Regional Security Cooperation in the context of COVID-19 pandemic: Situation and Response", which was convened online on December 21, 2020.
Ms. Chi Fang, the Deputy Executive Director of the CICA Secretariat, delivered her welcoming remarks at the opening ceremony of the event. She underlined that Think Tank Forum plays an important role in the development process of the CICA which has been proven by recent decision of Senior Officials Committee to hold the Think Tank Forum on the regular basis. Concluding her opening remarks, Ms. Chi Fang expressed her gratitude to the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies for organization of this event and their overall active engagement in the development of CICA’s academic track.
The Roundtable was attended by scholars and experts from research centers of China, India, Iran, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia and South Korea.
During this extensive knowledge sharing session, parties exchanged views on the current situation and impact of the pandemic on security situation in the world and the Asian region in particular. Experts elaborated on non-traditional new ways of cooperation within the CICA framework for combating the current pandemic.
Delegates stressed that Member States have great political and economic potential. The CICA should keep developing cooperation and coordinate activities in the fight against the spread of the pandemic. Participants agreed that realization of this mission by the Conference will enhance its credibility.
