Baku, Azerbaijan, 1 October 2026
Excellencies,
Mr. Hikmet Hajiyev, Mr. Ahmad Ismayilov,
Distinguished media representatives,
Dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,
It is an honour to address the opening of the First CICA Media Forum in Baku.
To launch a first-of-its-kind gathering within the CICA framework is a valuable addition to the regional dialogue, and my first words of gratitude go to His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev for his visionary initiative to convene the CICA Media Forum.
This initiative reflects his broader vision of international cooperation grounded in openness and dialogue and recognition of the important role of the media in strengthening trust and mutual understanding among nations.
I also express my sincere appreciation to our Azerbaijani hosts for the warm hospitality and excellent organization – a spirit felt with every return to this city. Each visit to Baku brings a new opportunity to advance cooperation within CICA. These regular engagements demonstrate the active and effective approach of the Azerbaijani Chairmanship under the theme “Stronger CICA: Connectivity, Digitalization and Sustainable Growth in Asia”. Translating these practical results into mutual trust requires a clear public awareness, which makes today’s gathering of media professionals so timely and significant.
Ladies and gentlemen,
In a world increasingly shaped by geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty and climate pressures, the digital transformation is rapidly changing how societies access and interpret information.
Where rapid information flows can either bridge divides or widen misunderstandings, narrative shifts directly affect international relations. In this environment, fostering constructive and factual dialogue becomes a global priority.
This priority was clearly reaffirmed at the recent UN General Assembly: a sustainable world can only be built on the foundation of trust and cooperation. However, global goals require regional action. Regional efforts prove their true value by providing practical, tailored solutions that strengthen the wider UN-based system.
Delivering these regional solutions is exactly what CICA does. Bringing together 28 Member States, CICA provides an inclusive platform for dialogue across Asia. CICA’s principles of sovereign equality and consensus enable countries with different national experiences to find common ground.
Reaching this common ground and building partnerships start with trust. Trust turns dialogue into practical cooperation. Trust grows through consistent engagement and shared experience of working together.
Distinguished participants,
CICA translates this philosophy into action by fostering trust through concrete confidence building measures across five dimensions: Military-Political, New Challenges and Threats, Economic, Environment and Human dimensions.
There are tangible CICA achievements to highlight. Over the years, CICA has evolved from a dialogue platform into a robust intergovernmental mechanism for practical cooperation. Under Azerbaijan’s Chairmanship, this framework achieved significant operational progress, driving hundreds of targeted initiatives and creating an extensive network of professional ties across Asia.
This momentum relies on a cross-dimensional approach, where progress in one area creates opportunities in another. Education drives economic participation, digital connectivity expands access to knowledge, and environmental cooperation protects public health and social well-being.
Women’s empowerment vividly illustrates these cross-dimensional links. By connecting social inclusion with economic growth, the CICA Women Council – established at the initiative of the Azerbaijani Chairmanship – advances women’s participation in public life, professional development, and entrepreneurship.
Youth engagement carries a similarly vital impact across Asia. An excellent example is the “Digitalization and Research Capacity Building Training for Researchers and Early-Career Policy Professionals”, launched here in Baku on the eve of CICA Media Forum by ADA University in its capacity as Chair of the Coordination Council of the CICA Partnership Network of Leading Universities.
Complementing these efforts, other CICA’s advisory platforms – from Business Council, Finance Summit and CICA Fund to the Think Tank Forum and Council of Eminent Persons – drive progress on priorities ranging from SME support and connectivity to high-level policy dialogue.
I am particularly pleased that various stakeholders from CICA advisory bodies are expected to interact on the sidelines of today's Media Forum. Bringing CICA bodies together with media creates a unique opportunity to translate expertise into clear news stories that matter across CICA region.
Beyond institutional mechanics and economic cooperation, lasting trust is deeply rooted in cultural understanding and people-to-people ties. An inspiring testament to this spirit is The Tales of Asia – a unique collection of fairy tales and folklore from CICA Member States.
First published in English and Russian to celebrate CICA’s 30th Anniversary in 2022, The Tales of Asia continues to unite cultures through the power of storytelling. Following the 2025 Arabic and Kazakh editions, 2026 marks the launch of the Azerbaijani and Chinese editions.
Each new edition enables readers, including children and young people, to discover the traditions and values of neighboring societies. This is a practical contribution to cultural understanding, and the media represented here are warmly invited to introduce this publication to their audiences.
Dear colleagues,
Deeper cooperation among CICA Member States should be accompanied by closer ties among the professionals of their media. Today’s Media Forum provides an opportunity to develop these contacts, exchange experiences and bring CICA’s initiatives to wider audiences.
The agenda covers critical topics – from media responsibility in the age of artificial intelligence to the role of journalism in social harmony and cultural understanding.
This gathering is especially important ahead of the Seventh CICA Summit, which Baku will soon be hosting on 15 October 2026.
I express my appreciation to the Azerbaijani Chairmanship for advancing this agenda in the lead-up to the CICA Summit and encourage media to follow the Summit’s discussions and outcomes closely and translate its significance to audiences across the region.
In line with CICA’s focus on practical cooperation across its dimensions, media engagement can adopt the same result-oriented approach. Joint workshops, newsroom visits and shared fact-checking initiatives will turn today’s discussion into a long-term professional network.
The CICA Secretariat is ready to facilitate further engagement with media in coordination with the Chairmanship and its Member States.
I wish you productive discussions and continued success in your work.
Thank you for your attention.
