Tashkent, 14-15 April 2025 - Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Ambassador Kairat Sarybay held a series of productive meetings as part of his working visit to the Republic of Uzbekistan.
At the meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Mr. Bobur Usmanov, discussions focused on CICA’s current agenda, the priorities of the Azerbaijani Chairmanship and the progress in the construction of the organization’s headquarters in Astana. In view of Uzbekistan’s role as a coordinator of confidence building measures in the human dimension, the parties exchanged opinions on the prospects for enhancing cooperation within the CICA framework, including the Youth and Business Councils. The Deputy Minister expressed support for the activities of the Secretariat, the initiatives of the current Chairmanship and the transformation of CICA into a full-fledged international organization.
During the meeting with Mr. Eldor Aripov, Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the discussion addressed the regional agenda and the need to strengthen sustainable connectivity in Asia. Ambassador Sarybay informed the counterpart about the preparations for the 13th meeting of the CICA Think Tank Forum, scheduled to take place in Baku this September.
The Secretary General visited the Youth Affairs Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan, where he was briefed on current projects aimed at supporting and empowering the younger generation. At a meeting with the Agency’s First Deputy Director Ms. Dilnozakhan Kattakhanova, discussions centred on the role of youth as a driver of sustainable development and the state's contribution to creating a conducive environment and opportunities for young people. The Secretary General spoke about the upcoming CICA Youth Council meeting scheduled for the second half of 2025, the launch of the Partnership Network of Leading Universities, the initiative to create the CICA Alley in the capitals of the Member States and the planned second edition of the Rally of Volunteer Movement Leaders to be held in Baku. Following the meeting, the parties agreed to strengthen cooperation under these initiatives, ensuring the active engagement of Uzbekistan’s youth.
During the visit, a meeting was also held with Acting Director of the Investment Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan Mr. Mansurjon Rasulev. Ambassador Sarybay shared details about the forthcoming meetings of the CICA Business Council and Business Forum, scheduled for 20-21 May in Baku, and highlighted the CICA platform’s potential in facilitating trade, attracting investment and developing small and medium enterprises in the Member States.
As part of the visit, the Secretary General had a meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Uzbekistan H.E. Huseyn Rzagulu oglu Guliyev and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Uzbekistan H.E. Beibut Atamkulov, which focused on pertinent issues on the CICA agenda.
