Bangkok, 26 February 2026 –The Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), H.E. Ambassador Kairat Sarybay, delivered a keynote address at the Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University under the Seventh Asia Forward Series, focusing on the strategic theme “From Corridors to Confidence: Central Asia, the Middle Corridor, and Asia’s New Connectivity Architecture.”
The event, convened by the Institute of Asian Studies of Chulalongkorn University, provided a distinguished platform for dialogue among members of the diplomatic corps, scholars and students on the evolving architecture of connectivity across Asia. In his remarks, the Secretary General conveyed his sincere appreciation to the University’s leadership and academic community for their hospitality and intellectual engagement, noting that Chulalongkorn University’s vision of international partnership and “togetherness” resonates strongly with CICA’s inclusive and consensus-based philosophy.
Ambassador Sarybay noted that as Asia assumes a growing role in shaping global economic dynamics, connectivity should be understood not solely as physical infrastructure, but as a multidimensional process grounded in trust and cooperation. He stressed that sustainable connectivity requires transparency, dialogue and mutual respect, observing that the Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, represents not only a transport artery but also a strategic platform for strengthening shared responsibility and regional stability.
Positioning CICA within this emerging architecture, Ambassador Sarybay emphasized the organization’s unique role as a pan-Asian platform uniting 28 Member States across 90 percent of the continent and operating strictly on the principles of inclusiveness, consensus and voluntariness. He noted that connectivity remains central to the priorities of the current Azerbaijani Chairmanship under the theme “Connectivity, Digitalization and Sustainable Growth in Asia,” as Member States advance the transformation of CICA into a full-fledged international organization ahead of the Seventh Summit in Baku.
Highlighting CICA’s institutional ecosystem, the Secretary General elaborated on the role of its advisory bodies — including the Business Council, Youth Council, Think Tank Forum, Partnership Network of Leading Universities, Women Council, Finance Summit — as practical platforms translating dialogue into sectoral cooperation. These bodies serve as platforms where connectivity is operationalized through SME development, academic exchange, youth engagement, gender empowerment and financial dialogue, reinforcing confidence building across economic and humanitarian dimensions.
Special attention was also given to the CICA Fund as an operational instrument enabling Member States to mobilize voluntary resources for concrete regional projects. Referring to the Fund’s first approved initiative supporting Afghan farmers, Ambassador Sarybay encouraged broader participation to further strengthen CICA’s practical impact in addressing urgent regional challenges.
The Secretary General also drew attention to CICA’s expanding network of international partnerships. He recalled the organization’s reciprocal observer status with the United Nations and its alignment with global priorities in regional security and sustainable development. He further noted ongoing engagement with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), emphasizing that such cooperation enhances CICA’s international visibility and reinforces multilateral synergies across Asia.
Ambassador Kairat Sarybay concluded by encouraging academic institutions and young leaders to actively engage with CICA’s dialogue platforms, noting that the organization’s transformation into a full-fledged international body reflects not only institutional evolution, but also the consolidation of a platform for future generations. Referring to the “Chula Power of Togetherness,” he emphasized that sustained multilateral interaction and intellectual exchange are essential to transforming corridors of trade into corridors of lasting peace.
