ASTANA — Kazakhstan proposes expanding the agenda of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) to include artificial intelligence (AI), preventive diplomacy, water cooperation and regional transport connectivity, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at the seventh CICA summit in Baku on Oct.
15. Tokayev sets out priorities for CICA’s transformation at Baku summit. Photo credit: Akorda. Speaking at the summit, Tokayev also called for transforming CICA into a full-fledged international organization, proposed establishing new partnerships in water and human capital development, and highlighted Kazakhstan’s cooperation with Azerbaijan and other regional partners on energy and digital infrastructure.
“For Kazakhstan, the conference is of particular importance. More than three decades ago, our country initiated the creation of this forum to strengthen mutual trust and promote security in our vast region,” Tokayev said. He noted that CICA member states cover nearly 90% of Asia’s territory and represent more than half of the world’s population.
He also welcomed Laos as a new full member of the forum. CICA urged to move from declarations to action Tokayev said the summit was taking place amid mounting pressure on the international security system, with military force increasingly taking precedence over the rule of law.
“In essence, the very foundations of the international security architecture are gradually eroding, accompanied by a dangerous shift in priorities in favor of force and to the detriment of the rule of law,” he said. Citing figures on armed conflicts, civilian deaths, displacement and food insecurity, President Tokayev argued that the scale of current challenges required stronger international institutions and more practical cooperation.
“The era of declarations of intent is coming to an end,” Tokayev said. He recalled that participants at the sixth CICA summit in Astana in 2022 agreed to transform the forum into a full-fledged international organization. Kazakhstan expects the adoption of CICA’s charter to provide a roadmap for its future activities.
As a practical measure, he proposed launching a CICA Mechanism for Preventive Diplomacy to help member states address emerging disputes before they escalate.