13th meeting of CICA Think Tank Forum wraps up
Baku, September 10, AZERTAC
The closing ceremony of the 13th meeting of the CICA Think Tank Forum, themed “Resonance of Development and Security: Regional Cooperation and Governance in the Institutional Transformation of CICA,” was held in Baku on Wednesday.
Addressing the event, Farid Shafiyev, Chairman of the Board of the Center for Analysis of International Relations, stated that the 13th meeting of the CICA Think Tank Forum is an important platform that brings together experts, diplomats, and young people from different regions, in addition to being a forum for engaging in discussions.
Shafiyev mentioned that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to its chairmanship of CICA for 2024-2026. President Ilham Aliyev’s address to the participants of the 13th meeting of the Forum is also a vivid example of the attention and value he places on CICA.
“We have held very meaningful, insightful and productive discussions during the sessions. We have heard very exciting ideas and new proposals from the participants. I’m convinced that these ideas and recommendations will significantly contribute to CICA’s activities in the future,” Shafiyev emphasized.
Farid Shafiyev noted that an additional event will be held with the participation of young students following the closing ceremony of the Forum.
In his remarks, Kairat Sarybay, Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), said that hosting of CICA in ancient Baku, particularly on the eve of Formula 1, contributed to new regional perspectives.
Emphasizing the importance of fundamental security, the Secretary General highlighted the great prospects of CICA. He said that the organization consistently keeps regional issues, sustainable development, and economic matters in the spotlight.
He also stressed the importance of a joint agenda and a forward-looking action plan, emphasizing that future cooperation must be based on mutual respect.
Chen Dongxiao, President of the Shanghai Institutes of International Studies, underscored that President Ilham Aliyev's address to the participants read out at the opening ceremony of the session confirmed the significance of this event. "During this Forum, we have made important contributions to strengthening relations and cooperation between our peoples,” he added.
"I think we should further enhance this platform and continue our cooperation more openly, since this Forum is of great significance not only for CICA, but also for the future of the entire region,” Chen Dongxiao underlined.
The two-day Forum, co-organized by the Board of the Center for Analysis of International Relations and CICA, featured discussions on topics such as exploring new approaches to security management in Asia, the supply chain in the era of green and digital transformation, strengthening Eurasian transport corridors, and enhancing the transformation and institutional capacity of CICA.