Islamabad, Hilal Ahmad, 17 December, AZERTAC

The Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Tuesday participated virtually in the 7th Ministerial Meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), hosted by CICA Chair Azerbaijan in a virtual format.

According to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, the meeting focused on enhancing regional cooperation, promoting peace and advancing sustainable development in Asia. The Deputy Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the CICA’s vision of achieving common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security in Asia. He highlighted CICA’s immense potential in addressing the region’s key challenges including political disputes, conflicts, and endemic poverty that continue to hinder collective progress.

A key focus of Pakistan’s statement was the imperative of strengthening regional connectivity to foster economic integration and sustainable development. The Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the vital role of connectivity initiatives like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in promoting shared growth, facilitating infrastructure development, and enhancing trade and energy links across Asia. These projects, he noted, can serve as catalysts for regional economic cooperation and prosperity.

Pakistan is a founding member of CICA, a multi-national forum aimed at enhancing cooperation and confidence-building among its 28 member states to promote peace, security, stability, and prosperity in Asia.