Statements and Remarks of CICA Secretary General Ambassador Kairat Sarybay

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Opening remarks by CICA Secretary General Ambassador Kairat Sarybay at the 12th Meeting of the CICA Think Tank Forum


Good afternoon,

Distinguished delegates, esteemed scholars, and fellow colleagues,

 

I am happy to come back to China to welcome you to the Twelfth Meeting of the CICA Think Tank Forum in the vibrant city of Shanghai. I extend my heartfelt thanks to President Dr.Chen and the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies for their gracious hospitality and steadfast dedication to fostering dialogue among the think tanks of CICA Member States, working together for the betterment of the peoples of Asia.

I trust that the next two days will be deeply engaging, and I hope that all participants will leave this gathering enriched with fresh perspectives and innovative ideas.

 

Ladies and gentlemen,

We are witnessing a profound transformation in the global landscape. The once-dominant power structures, defined by bipolar or unipolar influences, are giving way to a multipolar world. This new order is one where power is spread across several influential nations and regions, reshaping the very dynamics of global politics and economics.

In this evolving system, Asia stands as a central pillar. With its rapid economic growth, demographic dynamism, and geopolitical importance, Asia is playing an increasingly crucial role in shaping the path of the new global order. The region is not just reacting to change; it is driving it. Asia's voice must be stronger in global governance, with its leaders actively contributing to key international institutions and influential regional organizations.

CICA’s significance as a pan-Asian mechanism for dialogue and cooperation has increasingly been recognized, addressing a wide array of issues, including the military-political sphere, countering emerging threats, economic cooperation, and environmental and humanitarian concerns. Over its more than 30-year journey, CICA has organically evolved into a de facto international organization with all the requisite characteristics and a well-established system of institutions. It now stands as a vital platform for fostering peace, development, and security across Asia by harnessing the collective wisdom of its member countries.

As you know, at the Sixth Summit, driven by the initiative of President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, CICA leaders agreed to elevate our forum to the status of a full-fledged regional international organization. In this period, key CICA documents, such as the Rules of Procedure and the Catalogue of Confidence Building Measures, were revised. Additionally, regulations for the CICA Think Tank Forum and the Council of Eminent Persons, were ratified, and the CICA Fund was officially created. The CICA family also grew with the inclusion of Kuwait as a new Member State and Turkmenistan and Saudi Arabia as new Observers. Furthermore, several nations, both within and beyond Asia, are expressing interest in engaging with our platform. We have also formalized a partnership with the Eurasian Economic Union, while our collaboration with the UN and its agencies continues to deepen.

CICA Member States have been paying utmost attention to the area of research and innovation as a unique way to enhance their collaboration and promote further multifaceted development. In this sense, the role of TTF as a platform for scientific and academic exchanges among specialized institutions of the CICA Member States can hardly be underappreciated.

By promoting networking and cooperation within the CICA framework, think tanks facilitate connections between SME owners, industry specialists, policymakers, and other stakeholders, enabling partnerships, the exchange of ideas, and collaborative learning. This is just a glimpse of the analytical potential that the 28 Member States bring to the table. As the TTF broadens its scope and activities, its ability to address pressing challenges, shape policy dialogue, and contribute to peace and stability in Asia will only continue to grow.

 

Dear participants,

The collaborative potential of the CICA TTF is rooted in the very principles outlined in the Declaration on Principles Guiding Relations Among CICA Member States, CICA’s first document consensually approved by all Member States in September 24, 1999.

This year, as we mark the 25th anniversary of the Declaration, we celebrate not only a milestone in the history of the organization but also a reaffirmation of the shared values that unite us. This Declaration stands as a testament to the power of dialogue and collective will in shaping the future of security and cooperation in Asia. It enshrines the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, reflecting our shared commitment to sovereignty, territorial integrity, peaceful coexistence, and non-interference in each other's affairs.

The timelessness of the Declaration is evident as we confront the challenges of today. As participants of the CICA TTF, this moment presents a unique opportunity to reaffirm the relevance of the Declaration and the principles it upholds. These principles continue to guide our interactions and provide a solid foundation for peace and stability in the region. By reflecting on the Declaration now, we can underscore how it remains not just a historical document but a living framework that informs the way we approach multilateral diplomacy.

Distinguished colleagues,

As we reaffirm the enduring significance of the Declaration in guiding CICA’s future, it is also important to reflect on how these principles can be translated into concrete actions. The TTF plays a vital role in this endeavor, and its annual action plan for 2024 exemplifies the potential for CICA member states to collaborate on key issues. However, while the plan outlined a series of interactive workshops aimed at fostering dialogue and knowledge-sharing, these important initiatives have yet to materialize.

The planned workshops, focusing on critical themes such as multipolarity, multilateralism, and regional security, were intended to serve as platforms for engaging with pressing issues like energy, food security, climate change, and the digital economy. There is still ample opportunity to bring these workshops to life, and their eventual implementation will further reinforce the TTF’s role in driving collaborative learning and policy dialogue across CICA Member States. This will enable us to better address the complex challenges of our time while continuing to build strong networks among think tanks in the CICA region.

To ensure the continued momentum of the TTF and build on the valuable ideas from 2024, it is crucial that we begin drafting the annual action plan for 2025 with renewed focus and commitment. This plan should not only reaffirm our dedication to fostering regional cooperation but also address the lessons learned from the previous year. The idea is to have the Annual plan approved at the SOC Meeting in Astana, which will take place early December this year.

 

Distinguished audience,

We can do so much more. Last year, with the approval of the CICA Business Council Board, I initiated two pivotal research projects through the Think Tank Forum. The first project focuses on National Approaches and Incentives Used by CICA Member States to Support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and will culminate in an e-book. This research aims to provide SMEs across CICA Member States with critical insights into legislative frameworks and incentives, facilitating their expansion across Asia. Additionally, the Secretariat plans to organize a seminar with CICA Business Council members in 2025 to discuss the findings.

The second project, The Involvement of Women in Small and Medium Enterprises in the CICA Region: Challenges and Opportunities, aligns with next year’s global commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action—the most transformative global agenda for gender equality and women's empowerment, adopted by 189 countries at the 1995 UN Conference.

With the approval of TTF’s yearly plan last June, the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS) and other TTF members have begun these research projects. To further support these efforts, the CICA Secretariat has taken additional steps. I have informed the Kazakh Chairmanship of CICA, represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Nurlan Baybazarov, about our collaborative work to provide CICA Member States and their business communities with current information on national approaches to supporting SMEs. I am pleased to share today a questionnaire developed by the Kazakh Economic Research Institute, which may be useful for the TTF’s research endeavors.

In September this year, during my productive meeting with UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous on the sidelines of the Summit of the Future, Madam Bahous offered UN Women’s assistance in sharing data on women in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the CICA region. This proposal was further endorsed by Christine Arab, Regional Director of UN Women for Asia Pacific. Consequently, the CICA Secretariat will convene a meeting in November to explore how the UN Women team, which closely collaborates with businesses across Asia, can contribute to the CICA TTF’s research on this vital topic.

The seventh CICA Business Council plenary session will be held in Astana on 20 November 2024. We would highly appreciate brief remarks from SIIS on these research topics at the Business Council meeting, particularly addressing the adopted plan and the recommendations of the CICA Secretary General from last year. As previously indicated, the Shanghai Institute for International Studies is keen to send a representative to participate online. A formal invitation will be sent in early November once CICA Member States have reviewed the draft Concept Paper for the CICA Business Council.

Looking ahead I would like to suggest another initiative that could engage TTF’s intellectual resources. Earlier this month Kazakhstan hosted the Rally of Volunteer Movement Leaders and the 7th Meeting of the CICA Youth Council where Member States exchanged views on the role of volunteerism for sustainable development in Asia. Among other things the Council recommended that CICA Member States could support the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development in 2026 proclaimed by a UN resolution at Kazakhstan's initiative.

During the Rally our colleagues from the UN Volunteers presented their State of Volunteering in Central Asia Review. Encouraged by this project I would like to propose conducting in 2025-2026 a similar review of volunteering in the CICA region. This study would require both participation of the interested Member States and the TTF network. The results of the review could be published and presented during a side-event jointly organized by the Secretariat, TTF and our UN partners in 2026 to commemorate the International Year of Volunteers. I sincerely count on your support in this endeavor.

Later this year, we will conclude four fruitful years of CICA multifaceted activities under the Republic of Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship. I am confident that TTF activities will get even more support and care during the upcoming Azerbaijani Chairmanship that will assume it at the Baku Ministerial.

In conclusion, I would like to highlight that the tangible cooperation among CICA Member States, the creation of a robust set of CICA tools—including the Think Tank Forum—and the recent milestones and forward-thinking initiatives reflect CICA’s increasing importance to its members. These developments underscore its substantial contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity across Asia.

Thank you for your attention!

 

Shanghai, China, 24 October 2024

 

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