Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to welcome all of you to the CICA Side Event and express my deep gratitude for your participation despite your tight schedules. My name is Kairat Sarybay – CICA Secretary General.
The Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, as an intergovernmental forum with the widest geographical coverage in the Asian region and a broad agenda, together with its 28 Member States is creating a unique platform to consolidate the wisdom of all Asian countries for peace, cooperation, security and development, and to fully integrate them into multilateral decision-making processes of global importance.
Our approach involves broadening shared ground by jointly implementing measures to build trust, spanning various dimensions, including sustainable development. Voluntary collaborative efforts, such as practical activities, aim to elevate relationships from mere interaction to deeper understanding, fostering trust, encouraging dialogue, and bolstering cooperation. This represents CICA's commitment to ensuring unified security in Asia and creating the essential prerequisites for effectively achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
With its multilateral approach, CICA plays a pivotal role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals through its five dimensions set down in the CICA Catalogue of Confidence Building Measures. CICA's commitment to peace and cooperation in the region aligns with various aspects of sustainable development. Firstly, its Military-Political Dimension fosters an atmosphere of trust and stability, essential for sustainable development initiatives to thrive. Furthermore, the Economic Dimension promotes economic cooperation, trade, and investment, which are pivotal for economic growth and the eradication of poverty. Thirdly, the Human Dimension focuses on human rights, gender equality, and social justice, which are integral to achieving inclusive and equitable societies. Moreover, the Environmental Dimension emphasizes environmental protection and sustainable resource management, contributing directly to environmental sustainability goals that are related to the SDGs 13-15. Finally, CICA's New Challenges and Threats Dimension addresses emerging global issues like terrorism, conflicts, and cybersecurity, which are interconnected with multiple SDGs. In summary, CICA's comprehensive approach aligns with various dimensions of the SDGs, making it a key player in advancing sustainable development in the Asian region.
Distinguished guests,
CICA Member States consistently reaffirm their dedication to the principles and goals of the UN and the UN Charter.
In 2007 CICA was granted Observer status at the UN General Assembly. Since then, CICA Secretariat has been developing ties with the UN and its agencies, participating in the sessions of UN GA, as well as other relevant UN meetings, workshops, and seminars, in particular ESCAP, UNRCCA, UNOCT, and UNODC. Furthermore, in 2008 an MoU was signed with International organization for Migration, in 2015 – with UNODC. All this allowed for a regular dialogue, exchange of views and experience sharing on topical issues of regional and global agenda and how CICA can be instrumental in achieving UN goals corresponding to the 5 dimensions of CICA interaction. Our plans also include strengthening ties with UNESCAP as we look forward to its 80th Session in April 2024 and I am grateful to the UN Under-Secretary-General, ESCAP Executive Secretary Ms. Armida Alisjahbana for her keen interest in CICA process. Two days before, we reached an agreement with the UN Under-Secretary-General, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for West Asia Ms. Rola Dashti to explore the possibility of collaborating on activities of mutual interest. Additionally, we have been exploring the potential of cooperation with UN Women, in particular on the role of women in developing SMEs, and there is certain interest in cooperation with UNESCO, especially focusing on youth policies development, education, science and intercultural dialogue. CICA Secretariat is determined to enhance partnership with the UN and its agencies to promote regional connectivity and implement Sustainable Development Goals.
Excellencies, dear colleagues,
During the 6th CICA Summit in October 2022 in Astana our heads of state and government launched the CICA Transformation process into a full-fledged regional international organization. At this Summit, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev put forward an initiative to strengthen cooperation in the environmental dimension by holding a High-level Environmental Conference in Astana in 2024 to identify environmental issues and develop coordinated solutions under the auspices of CICA.
By organizing such a high-level conference, the CICA platform will demonstrate its commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development. Asia, as a continent with a large population, robust economic growth, and geographical diversity, faces a much greater challenge in incorporating a wide variety of approaches to tackle various climatic and environmental challenges.
Moreover, the Kazakh Chairmanship, during the 6th CICA Summit, initiated the establishment of the CICA Council on Sustainable Connectivity to tackle new challenges in the global economy, including supply chain, to address the underdeveloped connectivity of the CICA Member States.
The ambitious objective of this Council will be to develop and strengthen the transit and transport potential and transportation corridors of the CICA Member States, whose geography stretches from the Pacific Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and from the Arctic Ocean to the Indian Ocean. The Kazakh Chairmanship and the CICA Secretariat are currently finalizing the concept paper for this new CICA body for subsequent discussion by all Member States.
On top of that, within the Economic Dimension, we have a CICA advisory body established in 2014 - the CICA Business Council, which includes representatives of business associations and government agencies of the Member States. This institution is responsible for promoting the development and expansion of the economic relations of SMEs and meets annually, convening the CICA Business Forum as part of its meetings.
For instance, the 2021 Business Council and Business Forum meeting was devoted to business prospects in the context of the pandemic, with a focus on food production, including deep-processed grains, oil crops, meat and dairy products, as well as construction materials. In 2022, the discussion was centered on digitalization of SME business processes and food security. The next meeting of the CICA Business Council and its Business Forum will be held in October of 2023 in Turkestan, one of the oldest cities of Kazakhstan founded in 418, and will discuss green finance, renewable energy and food security.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Sustainable development is a fundamental concept with the power to shape our future. A correct understanding of the concept of sustainability is one of the key points in achieving sustainable development goals.
SDGs remind us that our destinies are intertwined, and the challenges we face are global in nature. The goals of sustainable development can only be achieved when we commit to true cooperation, solidarity, and partnership. I’m confident that CICA and its Member States are well-placed to make a meaningful contribution to the global efforts to achieve these objectives.
Let us have a renewed commitment to collaboration and partnership, knowing that by working together, we can build a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future for all the people of Asia and beyond.
Thank you.
New York, 22 September 2023
