Statements and Remarks of CICA Secretary General Ambassador Kairat Sarybay

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Statement by CICA Secretary General Ambassador Kairat Sarybay at the Seventh Plenary Session of the CICA Business Council


Құрметті Раимбек Ануарұлы,
Қайрат Қалмұкаметұлы,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Over the two biennial periods of Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship, together with all Member States and with the Secretariat’s assistance, CICA has undergone an exciting four-year journey of multiple achievements aimed at intensifying result-oriented activities and confirming its relevance as an effective platform for confidence building and cooperation in Asia.

Let me briefly outline the achievements of CICA under the Kazakh Chairmanship.

At the Sixth CICA Summit in 2022, the milestone Astana Statement on Transformation was adopted, formally launching this process. This document is undoubtedly the most important achievement of the past four years. It was followed by a significant breakthrough last year at the informal Ministerial Council meeting in New York—the adoption of the Road Map for CICA Transformation.

The major initiatives of Kazakhstan were put forth at the Fifth and Sixth CICA Summits. Joint efforts of the CICA Member States culminated in adopting the updated CICA Catalogue of CBMs at the Sixth Meeting of Foreign Ministers in October 2021, featuring 18 clear priority areas. We have successfully developed a fully updated Catalogue of CBMs that meets current challenges and demands.

Significant progress has also been made in further institutionalizing our forum. Over the past four years, three new permanent CICA institutions have been established:

  • The Council of Eminent Persons (CEP)

The Council of Eminent Persons is an advisory body designed to develop and provide advice on a wide range of issues of interaction and development within the framework of CICA, including the ways to strengthen peace and security, implement confidence building measures, further directions and priorities of CICA activities. 

  • The Think Tank Forum (TTF)

Initiated by the People’s Republic of China in 2014, the Think Tank Forum was transformed into a permanent institution of CICA in 2021 at Kazakhstan’s initiative. The Forum is an information and analytical advisory body of CICA, established for the provision of information and analytical support for activities within the CICA framework and to develop interaction among think tanks and research institutions of the CICA Member States.

  • The CICA Fund

The establishment of the CICA Fund was finalized at the Sixth Summit in Astana with the adoption of its Regulations. The Fund provides a unique mechanism for achieving practical, tangible results and showcasing these achievements globally through specific projects benefiting Member States.

Let me now turn to the most recent priorities defined for the second biennial period of our Chairmanship (2022–2024):

  • CICA Ministerial Conference on Environmental Issues (August 28, 2024):
    The 28 Member States adopted a high-level Statement committing to enhanced cooperation, water management, climate action aligned with the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, and improving quality of life through mitigation, conservation, and pollution control. The Chairmanship expects this Conference to be not a one-off event but the beginning of a systematic, long-term CICA effort to address shared environmental challenges.
  • CICA Youth Council Meeting and Rally of Volunteer Movement Leaders (October 3–4, 2024):

This ministerial meeting and rally were aimed at strengthening youth exchange and cooperation among volunteer organizations where youth play a significant role. The importance of this goal was highlighted in the Ministerial Statement on Promoting Volunteerism for Sustainable Development, adopted in New York in September 2023. Following this, Kazakhstan successfully proposed the UN declare 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development.

  • Partnership Network of Leading Universities (PNLU):
    Significant progress has been made in implementing this initiative proposed by the Head of State. A draft Memorandum on establishing the PNLU is expected to be adopted by the CICA Ministerial Council. This network will facilitate academic exchanges, joint research projects, and cooperation programs among universities in the vast CICA region, serving as an excellent tool to enhance the scientific and academic capacities of Member States.
  • CICA Finance Summit:

The Kazakh Chairmanship proposed transforming the CICA Finance Summit, successfully initiated and held three times by China since 2018, into a permanent platform. Draft regulations have been agreed upon at the expert level and are expected to be finalized and adopted at the Seventh Ministerial Council meeting on December 19, 2024, in Baku.

  • CICA Council on Sustainable Connectivity:
    Proposed by President Tokayev, this initiative aims to address emerging global economic challenges, such as supply chain disruptions. It seeks to harness Member States’ transit potential and strengthen cooperation in developing sustainable transportation corridors. Following expert meetings in February and May 2024, the Kazakh Chairmanship is drafting the Council's Regulations and welcomes input from Member States.

 

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Expanding the geography and external relations of CICA has been a priority of the Kazakh Chairmanship across both its biennial terms.

Over the course of the Kazakh Chairmanship, one Member State (Kuwait in 2022) and two Observer States (Turkmenistan in 2021 and Saudi Arabia in 2023) joined the CICA family. One more application for Observer Status (Morocco) is currently under consideration, and we hope Member States will endorse it soon.

Regarding international organizations, the Eurasian Economic Union became the 6th Partner Organization of CICA in 2022. Moreover, this year, the CICA Senior Officials Committee approved partnerships with two additional UN bodies—UNOCT and UN ESCAP. We anticipate signing a Memorandum between the Secretariats of CICA and ESCAP soon, making ESCAP our 7th Partner Organization.

Now, let me reflect on the agenda of the Seventh Plenary Session of the CICA Business Council and the Ninth Business Forum.

The themes for today’s discussions were thoughtfully selected by the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan “Atameken”, the Chamber of Commerce of Kazakhstan, and the CICA Secretariat last year for this gathering.

These topics address pressing issues relevant to contemporary business communities:

  • Challenges and opportunities in leveraging artificial intelligence for SME development.
  • Enhancing cross-border trade through advancements in e-commerce.
  • Addressing new challenges in logistics and infrastructure.
  • Empowering women in SMEs across the CICA region.
  • Prioritizing sustainable development in SMEs.

I believe that today’s discussions will provide valuable insights into the business landscape of Asia.

We are honored to have a guest speaker from the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, which serves as the Chair of the CICA Think Tank Forum.  Dr. Qiang Xiaoyun, Director of the Center for Russian & Central Asian Studies at SIIS will elaborate on the progress made and the next steps for implementing a synergy project between the CICA Think Tank Forum and the CICA Business Council. These projects include two research initiatives I proposed last year:

  • “National Approaches and Incentives Used by CICA Member States to Support Small and Medium Enterprises.”
  • “Involvement of Women in Small and Medium Enterprises in the CICA Region: Challenges and Opportunities.”

Speaking about the Business Forum, which will follow the Business Council immediately after lunchtime, I welcome the diverse range of speakers invited by the Chamber of Commerce of Kazakhstan to share their experiences on the agenda items.

Moreover, I am pleased to highlight an important development following my productive online meeting last January with the UN SRSG and Head of UNAMA, Madam Roza Otunbayeva. With the support of CICA Member States, representatives of the Afghan business community are participating in this year’s Business Forum. This initiative aims to support Afghan exporters who have transitioned away from opium poppy cultivation.

At CICA, we believe in the effectiveness of the "Asian way" of addressing challenges: progressing step by step, from simple to complex. These modest yet purposeful efforts by regional structures like CICA contribute meaningfully to the global community’s endeavors to support Afghanistan’s reintegration into international relations.

My best wishes for the upcoming Chair of the CICA Business Council, the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of the Azerbaijan Republic (KOBIA). The CICA Secretariat stands ready to support the incoming Chair in advancing the agenda of the CICA Business Council.

Thank you.

 

19 November 2024, Astana

 

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