The signing of the Road Map of the CICA Secretariat for the Implementation of the Priorities of the CICA Chairmanship for the next two-year period and presentation of the main directions of the upcoming CICA transformation took place at the CICA headquarters.
The Road Map is a regularly updated action plan for the implementation of the rich agenda of priorities of Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship in CICA and all the tasks assigned to the Secretariat by the Member States of the Organization.
The document signed by CICA Secretary General Ambassador Kairat Sarybay and consented by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Ambassador Kanat Tumysh contains, inter alia, elements of the transformation of CICA into a full-fledged international organization, which will be submitted for consideration by the Member States of the Organization.
The Road Map of the Secretariat also sets out the main directions of work on the substantive aspects and organizational matters of the CICA governing and working bodies and institutions, further institutional development of the Organization and strengthening cooperation with CICA Observers and Partners. Moreover, the Road Map incorporates the actions of the Secretariat on updating concept papers and action plans in the priority areas of the Catalogue of Confidence Building Measures and implementing events in 2023 as part of confidence building measures, as well as current capacity-building issues of the CICA Secretariat.
Deputy Minister Tumysh noted that the Sixth CICA Summit in October 2022 became the starting point for the establishment of CICA as a new actor in international relations, contributing to strengthening connectivity in Asia and promoting the common interests of the Organization’s Member States. The representative of the Chairmanship expressed gratitude to the Secretary General and the staff of the Secretariat for the support of the Kazakh Chairmanship and active work on the implementation of the objectives announced by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the Sixth CICA Summit.
Ambassador Tumysh noted that the Chairmanship will fully support the activities of the Secretariat in the implementation of the goals and priorities reflected in the Road Map. Mr Kanat Tumysh, who worked from 2010 to 2014 as CICA Deputy Executive Director, also stressed the tangible progress in the current activities of the Organization, the enhancement of the CICA process, the strengthening of the Secretariat and its increased activities, and noted with satisfaction the modern building of the CICA headquarters.
The Secretary General, in turn, informed the Deputy Minister about the current activities of the Secretariat and presented promising projects for the further development of the Organization, including the establishment of the CICA Council on Sustainable Connectivity and the Partnership Network of Leading Universities of the CICA Member States, the institutionalization of the CICA Finance Summit, the preparation of the High-level Environmental Conference in Astana in 2024, the commissioning of the newly created CICA Fund and other priority areas of activity.
