Ulaanbaatar, 5–7 June 2025 — The Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), Ambassador Kairat Sarybay, paid a working visit to Mongolia to participate in the Sustainability Dialogue 2025 titled “Climate Action: Billions of Trees”.
The Sustainability Dialogue was hosted by the Office of the President, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Mongolia and co-organized by the Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future and Stanford University’s Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center. The 2025 Sustainability Dialogue was a follow-up of the Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue initiative launched in 2022 by the latter two structures.
The main event, held on 6 June 2025, was inaugurated by H.E. Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, President of Mongolia, who addressed the audience with an insightful speech. In his remarks, the President explained the essence of his “Billions of Tress” initiative that goes beyond just tree-planting and implies changing the mindset of the people who are encouraged to be a part of the ongoing climate action across the globe. H.E. Ban Ki-moon, the 8th Secretary General of the United Nations, also spoke at the opening session of the Sustainability Dialogue, urging decision-makers throughout the world to demonstrate more leadership and action towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Secretary General Sarybay was invited to speak at Panel Session 2, titled “Technical Cooperation, Social Responsibility, and Expertise Sharing.” In his remarks, Ambassador Kairat Sarybay briefed the audience on the priorities of Azerbaijan’s Chairmanship within CICA’s environmental dimension building up on the achievements of Baku’s COP29 presidency and its overall climate diplomacy. The Secretary General emphasized the role of Mongolia as the coordinator of the environment protection priority area, along with CICA Member States like Bangladesh, China, Iran, Kazakhstan and Türkiye, in advancing CICA’s environmental agenda through hosting a number of engaging CBM events.
The need for institutionalizing environmental themes within the CICA platform was underlined as a result of the 2024 CICA Ministerial Conference on Environmental Issues in Astana. The Secretary General explained how CICA can contribute to high-profile international events previously hosted and to be hosted by in the future. In this context, Ambassador Sarybay proposed potential synergies between CICA and upcoming international milestones, including the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), to be held in Mongolia in 2026.
On the sidelines of the Sustainability Dialogue, the CICA Secretary General had a conversation with H.E. Battsetseg Batmunkh, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mongolia. Madam Minister was briefed on the major priorities of the Azerbaijani Chairmanship, including the CICA transformation efforts and its new institutional initiatives that are currently under discussion and expected to be adopted at the upcoming informal CICA Ministerial Council meeting in New York in September 2025. The Secretary General reiterated CICA’s readiness to support Mongolia’s preparations for COP17 and to explore joint platforms for advancing climate resilience in the region.
During the visit, the CICA Secretary General conducted comprehensive bilateral consultations with H.E. Mr. Munkhtushig Lkhanaajav, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia. Ambassador Sarybay informed the Mongolian diplomat of the key priorities of the Azerbaijani Chairmanship, covering both existing institutions and the proposed ones currently under discussion of CICA Member States. Special attention was drawn to the process of CICA transformation focusing on efforts to adopt a CICA Charter. The State Secretary committed to revitalize Mongolia’s participation in the work of CICA’s bodies and its CBM implementation.
Mongolia’s role as coordinator of the environment protection priority area was thoroughly explored during the Secretary General’s meeting with Mr. Batkhishig Purevdoo, Special Envoy on Climate Change of Mongolia. As part of the "Billions of Trees" initiative of President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, Ambassador Sarybay proposed to consider opening a CICA Alley in Ulaanbaatar, presenting its background and the existing precedent established in Astana. He also highlighted similar campaigns undertaken by other CICA Member States and recalled previous consultations on this initiative, underscoring its symbolic and unifying potential within the Organization’s environmental agenda.
