Kazakhstan’s Transformative CICA Chairmanship Concludes, Azerbaijan To Assume Leadership

Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) concludes today at the Seventh Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, marking the end of a dynamic and transformative four-year tenure, according to a press release from the Embassy of Kazakhstan in India.

The Republic of Azerbaijan will assume the Chairmanship for the 2024-2026 term, continuing the momentum established under Kazakhstan’s leadership.

Kazakhstan’s Key Achievements

Under the Chairmanship of Kazakhstan, CICA underwent significant institutional transformation, ensuring it remains a robust platform for peace, security, and cooperation across Asia.

1. Transformation into a Full-Fledged Regional Organization
   • The most notable achievement was the adoption of the Astana Statement on CICA Transformation during the Sixth CICA Summit on October 13, 2022.
   • President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized:“We are not creating a new organisation, we are moving to a new stage of institutional development.”
   • This transformation enables CICA to address Asia’s security and development challenges more effectively through inclusive, structured, and consensus-driven processes.
2. Institutional Development
   Kazakhstan’s leadership led to the establishment of new institutions:
   • Think Tank Forum: A permanent platform for expert dialogue.
   • CICA Fund: Facilitating project identification and fundraising.
   • Council of Eminent Persons: Providing strategic recommendations on peace and security.
   Additional initiatives included conceptualizing a Council on Sustainable Connectivity and institutionalizing the CICA Finance Summit to enhance economic integration in Asia.
3. Focus on Environmental Sustainability
   Kazakhstan prioritized environmental cooperation, hosting the first-ever CICA Ministerial Conference on Environmental Issues in August 2024, which promoted regional commitments on climate action and water management.
4. Education and Human Capital Development
   • Creation of the Partnership Network of Leading Universities to promote academic exchanges and research.
   • Organized the CICA Youth Council Rally of Volunteer Movement Leaders in October 2024 to engage youth and volunteers in fostering regional cooperation.
5. Expanding CICA’s Reach
   • Kuwait joined as a Member State in 2022.
   • Turkmenistan and Saudi Arabia gained observer status in 2021 and 2023 respectively.
6. New CICA Headquarters
   President Tokayev announced the construction of a state-of-the-art CICA headquarters in Astana, scheduled for inauguration in 2025. This facility will symbolize CICA’s evolution and Asia’s rising global significance.

CICA’s Role and Outlook

Established in 1992 on Kazakhstan’s initiative, CICA serves as a pan-Asian intergovernmental forum to promote peace, stability, and confidence-building through dialogue. With 28 Member States representing 90% of Asia’s territory, CICA addresses key issues across five dimensions:

• Military-Political
• New Challenges and Threats
• Human Development
• Economic Cooperation
• Environmental Sustainability

Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship has strengthened CICA’s relevance, advancing its role as a platform for fostering trust, dialogue, and cooperation among its Member States. The handover to Azerbaijan marks a continuation of efforts to enhance Asia’s collective security and sustainable development.

This transformative phase under Kazakhstan’s leadership sets a strong foundation for Azerbaijan’s Chairmanship to build upon in the coming years, ensuring a prosperous and secure Asia.