Kazakhstan concluded its four-year chairmanship of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), advancing its institutional growth. In an interview with Kazakhstanskaya Pravda on Dec. 25, CICA Secretary General Kairat Sarybay discussed Kazakhstan’s pivotal role in transforming CICA into a full-fledged international organization.
Sarybay described CICA’s transformation as a natural progression reflecting the institution’s evolution since its inception over 30 years ago. “As President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized at the Astana Summit, we are not creating a new organization but moving to a new stage of institutional development,” he said.
During Kazakhstan’s tenure, the number of Member States increased to 28, with Kuwait joining in 2022 and Turkmenistan and Saudi Arabia attaining observer status. Morocco’s application for observer status is currently being considered. Sarybay noted that this expansion highlights the relevance of CICA in fostering cooperation in Asia.
“We say that the ‘time of Asia’ has come, and it is true – the countries of the region are global leaders in political, economic, cultural, technological and educational areas. It is the most populous and fastest-growing continent. Given that perspective, a platform that can elevate cooperation among the countries of the continent and strengthen their ties and interactions is more in demand than ever,” said Sarybay.