Minister Ikramov,
Distinguished delegates and guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am glad to welcome all participants of the Sixth Meeting of the CICA Youth Council. Today we all are warmly and cordially hosted by Uzbekistan.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to thank the organizers of the meeting represented by the Government of Uzbekistan, first of all, the Ministry of Youth Policy and Sports, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Agency for Youth Affairs, as well as the administration of the Samarkand region for the high-level organization and oriental hospitality! The place of our meeting deserves special words of admiration – the ancient city of Samarkand – “a crossroad and melting pot of the world's cultures”, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Moreover, we highly appreciate Uzbekistan not only for its contribution to the overall development of regional processes in the CICA area, but also for fruitful work in the structural units of our Organization. Having voluntarily assumed obligations, Uzbekistan successfully performs the duties of coordinator of the human dimension and co-chair of the Youth Council within the framework of CICA. In 2021, Uzbekistan made a significant contribution to the process of updating the CICA Catalogue of Confidence Building Measures, in particular, at the suggestion of Uzbekistan, confidence building measures in the human dimension were significantly expanded, including the promotion of cooperation to strengthen democracy, the rule of law, civil society, human rights institutions, as well as the empowerment of women and girls.
At the Sixth CICA Summit held last year in Astana, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev voiced an important call for systematic cooperation in the interests of the youth. Shavkat Mirziyoyev also expressed general concern about the expansion of radical ideas, the emergence of new methods of propaganda and the ideological impact of destructive forces, the active involvement of young people in extremist organizations. In order to promote mutual understanding between people of different ages and jointly search for solutions to the most pressing problems of the youth, distinguished President Mirziyoyev proposed a new format – “Dialogue of Generations”.
As you know, CICA has gone through a remarkable evolution and currently serves as a relevant platform for interaction among Asian states on a wide range of issues. On 21 September this year in New York, during the High-level Week of the UN General Assembly session, the CICA Ministerial Council at its informal meeting endorsed the Road Map for CICA Transformation into a full-fledged international organization. The road map serves as a structured agenda and guiding document for the gradual transformation process with an open-ended and non-exhaustive list of areas for discussion and decision-making, such as elaborating a charter of the organization, exploring new areas of cooperation within CICA, budget reform and human resources management reform, and other areas.
The CICA Ministerial Council also adopted the Statement on Promoting Volunteerism for Sustainable Development, which gives a strong political impetus to a brand new direction for CICA activities to support and promote active engagement of citizens in volunteering, especially among the youth. According to the United Nations Volunteers programme, the younger generation under the age of 35 makes up about 25 percent of the total number of volunteers worldwide. In line with the statement made by the Ministerial Council, a section dedicated to volunteerism has been created on the CICA Secretariat's website for the Member States’ policies, strategies, research and best practices on volunteerism. The Kazakh Chairmanship initiated holding the Rally of Volunteer Movement Leaders of the CICA Countries under the auspices of the Youth Council in Astana in 2024. The draft Concept Paper has been circulated among the CICA Member States and we encourage the countries to actively discuss this document. The event will bring together young leaders from the Member States to share ideas, experiences and best practices in volunteering and community engagement.
I strongly believe that education is the cornerstone of youth development. We must ensure that our educational systems are inclusive, equitable, and up-to-date with the rapidly evolving world. Our youth should have access to quality education that prepares them for the challenges of the 21st century. In this regard, the Kazakh Chairmanship and the Secretariat are working to establish the Partnership Network of Leading Universities of the CICA Countries. This network will facilitate academic exchanges, joint research projects, and collaborative programmes among universities across our region. We expect the younger generation of Asia to become the main beneficiary of this project.
Distinguished participants,
The youth generation represents the main driving force for the sustainable development and prosperity of Asia. I would like to quote UN Secretary General H.E. António Guterres, who stated, “The hopes of the world rest on young people”, and we have to create more opportunities for the youth to make a difference for the benefit of the people. In this context, the Youth Council plays a particular role in CICA, providing an opportunity for the younger generation to discuss pressing issues and develop a common vision for Asia's prosperity.
Our today’s meeting will certainly be marked by spirited debates and informative presentations. I look forward to your active participation and to sharing your experiences. Let us collectively carve out a direction for empowering our youth, for building an Asia that is not only prosperous but also equitable and inclusive.
In closing, I would like to wish the Sixth Meeting of the CICA Youth Council fruitful deliberations and constructive recommendations.
Thank you for your attention!
Samarkand, 12 October 2023
