Ashgabat, 12 December 2025 — The Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) participated in the International Forum dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust, the International Day of Neutrality, and the 30th Anniversary of the Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan. The high-level Forum brought together heads of state and government, senior officials of international and regional organizations and representatives of the diplomatic community to discuss the role of peace, trust and neutrality in addressing contemporary global challenges.
The event was opened by the President of Turkmenistan, H.E. Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and featured contributions from eminent leaders. The Forum was attended by Presidents and Prime Ministers of CICA Member States, including Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Türkiye and Uzbekistan, as well as leaders of Armenia, Eswatini, Georgia and Myanmar. Other prominent speakers included heads of international organizations, including specialized agencies of the United Nations (UN), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).
In his address, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, H.E. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, noted the active role of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia in strengthening stability and security, and stated that the Conference continues to demonstrate its political relevance. He also expressed appreciation to partner states for their support of CICA’s activities, including efforts aimed at its transformation into a full-fledged international organization. These remarks reflected Kazakhstan’s consistent trust in CICA as an effective multilateral platform.
In his written statement to be included to the compilation of statements of Forum delegates, the CICA Secretary General underscored that the key calls of the United Nation resolution on declaring the year 2025 as the “International Year of Peace and Trust” on strengthening peace and trust based on dialogue, mutual understanding and cooperation are correspond to the objectives and principles of CICA. He further reiterated that Turkmenistan’s status in CICA as an Observer State reflects Ashgabat’s model of “positive neutrality” and aligns harmoniously with the philosophy of CICA, which is grounded in the principles of sovereign equality, mutual respect and trust. The Secretary General also expressed appreciation for Turkmenistan’s initiatives to promote sustainable transport, energy security, humanitarian cooperation and intercultural dialogue — areas fully consistent with CICA’s goals.
The Forum provided a valuable platform for exchange of views on strengthening peace initiatives, enhancing cooperative frameworks and identifying shared approaches to current global challenges.
