Astana, 10 December 2024 – The Senior Officials Committee (SOC) convened online today, chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakayev and Ambassador-at-Large Talgat Kaliyev, with participation of CICA Secretary General Ambassador Kairat Sarybay. This meeting marked final step in the preparations for the upcoming Seventh Ministerial Council (MC) Meeting on 17 December 2024, where the CICA Chairmanship will pass from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan.
In his opening remarks, Alibek Bakayev wished the Committee successful deliberations, expressing confidence that the "CICA spirit" of mutual respect and collaboration would guide discussions and ensure productive outcomes.
The SOC aimed at ensuring successful outcomes of the upcoming MC meeting, which will wrap up CICA achievements since the last Summit in Astana in 2022 and set the stage for 2024-2026 Chairmanship of Azerbaijan.
The senior officials achieved a breakthrough in reviewing and finalizing key documents for adoption by the ministers, in particular consensus on a draft CICA Ministerial Council Statement on the 25th Anniversary of the Declaration on the Principles Guiding Relations among the CICA Member States, which was prepared as the main political outcome of the MC meeting.
The Secretary General also briefed the SOC on organizational issues to ensure the smooth and efficient conduct of the MC meeting.
Discussions at the SOC meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of CICA Member States to advancing multilateral dialogue and cooperation in Asia.
