CICA Senior Officials Committee Review Achievements in Astana 2023 Meeting
The Senior Officials Committee (SOC) of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) gathered in Astana on Dec. 12 for its final meeting of 2023. Chaired by Alibek Bakayev, Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, the meeting provided an opportunity to review the organization’s achievements for the year and discuss plans for the future.
The meeting focused on the implementation of the CICA transformation roadmap, which was endorsed by the CICA Ministerial Council in September 2023. The roadmap outlines a pivotal framework for the organization’s activities and served as the basis for discussions on the outlook for 2024.
CICA Secretary General Kairat Sarybay presented an annual report on the activities of the CICA Secretariat, highlighting the organization’s efforts and achievements in 2023. The meeting also saw the approval of key planning documents for 2024, including the plan for implementing confidence-building measures and the budget of the Secretariat.
In addition, the SOC approved concept papers on environment protection and natural disaster management, prepared by Mongolia and Iran. The meeting also welcomed a proposal from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to join CICA as an observer state, showcasing the organization’s role in fostering dialogue and cooperation on a pan-Asian level.
The meeting also celebrated the ratification of the CICA Convention on Privileges and Immunities by Bangladesh, which is seen as a significant step in reinforcing the legal framework underpinning CICA’s operations. Lastly, discussions were held on forging closer ties with other international organizations, including potential collaboration with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism.
The meeting in Astana marked a productive conclusion to the activities of the CICA SOC for the year and set the stage for further progress and cooperation in 2024.
