Tehran, 17–19 May 2025 — The Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), Ambassador Kairat Sarybay, undertook a working visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran to participate in the Tehran Dialogue Forum (TDF) 2025 and hold a series of high-level bilateral consultations. This year’s edition convened over 200 senior representatives from 50 countries and featured 40 thematic sessions, fostering inclusive and substantive engagement with the international community.
Ambassador Sarybay contributed to the panel session titled “BRICS and SCO: Crafting Hopeful Horizons for the Global South”, where he emphasized the rising prominence of the Global South in an increasingly multipolar world. He noted that multilateral platforms such as BRICS, ASEAN, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) have allowed countries of the Global South to bring their specific concerns and priorities into global discourse. Complementing these frameworks, CICA distinguishes itself by providing a uniquely inclusive platform for constructive engagement across a wider range of issues, from climate change and environmental sustainability to youth empowerment and gender equality.
Ambassador Sarybay highlighted CICA’s unique value as a platform where even countries lacking formal diplomatic ties can come together to engage in constructive dialogue and confidence-building, thereby contributing to the peaceful resolution of tensions and promotion of mutual understanding.
Over the course of his visit, Ambassador Sarybay held in-depth discussions with the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, H.E. Abbas Araghchi, focusing on the transformation of CICA into a full-fledged international organization. The discussions also covered the institutionalization of new CICA bodies, including the proposed CICA Finance Summit, as well as the Councils on Sustainable Connectivity and Women, in line with the strategic priorities of the Azerbaijani Chairmanship. Minister Araghchi reaffirmed Iran’s support for the transformation process and expressed readiness to further intensify Iran’s engagement in CICA’s activities and events. He welcomed CICA’s consistent role in fostering security, harmony and confidence among Asian nations, and praised its growing importance as a unifying regional platform.
Ambassador Sarybay also met with Deputy Foreign Minister, President of the Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) Saeed Khatibzadeh. The Secretary General expressed his appreciation for the invitation to participate in the Forum and commended its role as a platform for dialogue on regional priorities. Deputy Minister Khatibzadeh, in turn, thanked Ambassador Sarybay for his meaningful contribution to the Forum’s deliberations. The Secretary General then provided an update on the activities of the CICA Think Tank Forum (TTF) and shared information on its upcoming meeting in Baku, aimed at strengthening expert-level cooperation within the CICA framework.
In a separate engagement at the Secretariat of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Ambassador Sarybay met with ECO Secretary General H.E. Asad M. Khan. The Secretaries General exchanged views on best practices of their institutions in human resources, financial management, and governance structures. They explored opportunities for enhanced cooperation through increased mutual participation in events and working-level exchanges. Both sides emphasized the importance of strengthening synergies among regional multilateral institutions to avoid duplication, ensure more efficient resource utilization, and amplify the impact of joint efforts.
