Roundtable: Towards the Future of Regional Integration: Openness and Connectivity
Session 2: Synergizing Regional Mechanisms
Distinguished colleagues,
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to start by sincerely thanking the host of the Boao Forum for such a unique opportunity to be a humble part of this renowned gathering. As usual, I am glad to be back to the beautiful Boao. But even more so, I am glad and privileged to speak in front of such a reputable audience bringing together the brightest minds of Asia and beyond.
As it was stated by H.E. President Xi Jinping in March 2022, our world is undergoing “changes not seen in a century”.
With its ample human and natural resources, rich cultural diversity and heritage, Asia has also not been spared from regional tensions, territorial disputes, extremism, economic instability, impact of climate change, and many other challenges and threats.
Facing the new security paradigms and current geopolitical turbulence, it is quite obvious that we need more genuine multilateralism ensuring sovereign equality and respect for the interests of all subjects of international law.
Amid these complex and often interlinked challenges to peace and prosperity, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) offers a unique toolkit to solve these problems collectively.
The two foundational documents of CICA – the Declaration of Principles of 1999 and the Almaty Act of 2002 – emphasize that peace, security, and stability should be pursued through cooperation, dialogue, and confidence building measures among Member States.
The objectives of CICA closely align with the famous security initiatives of the distinguished President of China H.E. Xi Jinping, such as the Global Security Initiative (GSI), Global Development Initiative (GDI), Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), along with the comprehensive Belt and Road Initiative. The GSI, for instance, recognizes CICA as an instrument for Asian and global security, among other platforms and mechanisms. Together, these initiatives create an overarching framework for fostering peace, security, and prosperity across Asia and beyond.
While our Member States come from various backgrounds, at least one thing unites them: they work together on a truly equal footing, regardless of their size. There is no pressure of the strong states on the weaker ones.
Over more than three decades of its evolution, CICA has established a number of advisory bodies, such as Business Council, Youth Council, Think Tank Forum and recently the Partnership Network of Leading Universities, as well as a special mechanism - the CICA Fund. Currently, the Member States are discussing the establishment of a Finance Summit, Women Council, Council on Sustainable Connectivity and ways to institutionalize environmental cooperation.
Dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen!
Since the last Boao Forum for Asia, CICA has important news to share. As a recognized advocate of multilateralism and an experienced actor in international diplomacy, Azerbaijan assumed CICA Chairmanship in December 2024, as it was handed over from Kazakhstan – CICA’s initiator state and host country.
The Chairmanship of Azerbaijan revolves around the topic of “Stronger CICA, Connectivity, Digitalization, and Sustainable Growth in Asia” through prioritizing the advancement of CICA’s transformation into a full-fledged international organization, effective implementation of confidence-building measures and increasing synergy and interaction with other international and regional platforms.
While promoting innovative approaches, Azerbaijani priorities build up on the legacy of previous Chairmanships and the accumulated achievements of CICA so far. This shows the consistency and continuity in our organization.
Enhancing cross-sectoral interactions is one of the core objectives set by Azerbaijan. Therefore, the Chairmanship’s priorities span several cooperation areas, from youth and academic engagement to enhancing economic dimension, paying due attention to transport, digitalization, climate, agriculture, cultural heritage preservation, cultural exchanges, and cyber-security issues. All these and other topics are subject of valuable and insightful discussions which I am sure we will see throughout the sessions of this Forum.
Excellencies!
CICA stands ready to play its part in strengthening Asia's collective security architecture. Synergy among regional mechanisms is not just a goal but a necessity in today’s interconnected world. CICA can act as a bridge between various organizations, fostering greater cooperation and coordination.
In the framework of existing relationships CICA is already facilitating cooperation with UN organizations and other regional fora. Representatives of UN Women, UN ESCAP and Eurasian Development Bank participated in the meetings of CICA Business Council, while representatives of UNDP, SCO and Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA) participated in the CICA Youth Council meetings.
CICA’s ongoing efforts to formalize relationships with UN Office of Counter-Terrorism and UN ESCAP, in addition to our existing relationships with International Organization for Migration and UN Office for Drugs and Crime, will enhance its ability to contribute to global peace and development. By aligning CICA’s regional initiatives with the UN’s global agenda, we can ensure that Asian perspectives are integrated into global decision-making processes. This synergy will also strengthen CICA’s capacity to address transnational challenges such as terrorism, drug trafficking, cyber security and climate change.
Notably, the Kazakh Chairmanship and the CICA Secretariat hosted a UN-CICA side event in New York in 2023 to advance partnerships for the SDGs. In April 2024, CICA and UN ESCAP jointly organized an event in Bangkok on leveraging digital innovation for sustainable development.
Dialogue with the SCO is continued based on the 2014 Memorandum of Understanding. By leveraging CICA’s inclusive nature and SCO’s advantages, we can create a complementary framework where CICA serves as an outreach platform for SCO, extending its reach to non-SCO members. This synergy will enhance regional security, promote economic integration, and facilitate joint initiatives for the benefit of the region.
Currently, we are exploring prospects for CICA-ASEAN cooperation and potential mutually beneficial activities for Secretariat-to-Secretariat engagement.
As it was indicated in the Vision paper of Azerbaijan, the CICA Chair will prioritize fostering partnership network of the CICA with international and regional organizations to promote synergy in addressing the issues of common concern.
In line with this Vision and the CICA Road Map for Transformation, the CICA Secretariat is updating the Guidelines for External Relations to codify the established practice of engaging with partner organizations, primarily international ones. To date, CICA has six partner organizations, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), along with its Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (SCO RATS), UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Eurasian Economic Union, Economic Cooperation Organization and the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan.
Ladies and gentlemen!
CICA today is the only pan-Asian forum providing its Member States with a platform for honest dialogue and decision-making based on consensus and inclusiveness. With its largest geographical reach, broad agenda and diverse toolkit, CICA is fully capable to consolidate the collective wisdom of Asian nations in the interests of peace, cooperation and development.
Looking ahead, I am confident that the transformation path our Member States have chosen together will ensure the unique niche of a renewed CICA in the global security architecture amid growing multipolarity and current geopolitical turbulences. The upgraded CICA is poised to help its Member States to build confidence, establish full-fledged cooperation on an equal footing and collectively pursue common interests. This should make Asia more stable and prosperous, ultimately strengthening global peace and security.
I thank you and look forward to fruitful discussions.
26 March 2025
South China's Hainan Province
