Kyrgyz top diplomat participates in meeting of CICA foreign ministers

Bishkek, Sept. 24, 2020. /Kabar/. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan Chingiz Aidarbekov took part in the meeting of Foreign Ministers of countries participating in the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) via video link, the press service of the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry reported.

During the online meeting, Kazakhstan assumed the presidency of the CICA from Tajikistan, and new Executive Director of the CICA Secretariat Kairat Sarybai (Republic of Kazakhstan) was introduced.

The participants discussed the development of cooperation between CICA member states in the conditions of spread of COVID-19, and exchanged views on strengthening practical interaction in priority areas, which were presented by the Kazakh side for the period of presidency in 2020-2022.

In his speech, FM Chingiz Aidarbekov noted that Kyrgyzstan is firmly committed to the goals and principles of the Conference on strengthening mutual trust and regional security. He emphasized the importance of expanding comprehensive cooperation in the CICA space to find new ways of sustainable socio-economic development in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The attention of the meeting participants was drawn to the initiative of Kyrgyzstan to propose a draft resolution to the 75th session of the UN General Assembly "Nature knows no borders: Transboundary cooperation is a key factor in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity", aimed at taking urgent measures to protect the environment, biodiversity conservation and environmental security.

Aidarbekov highly appreciated Kazakhstan's efforts to further develop and strengthen CICA and wished the Kazakh side success during the presidency.

The Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) is an inter-governmental forum for enhancing cooperation towards promoting peace, security and stability in Asia. It is a forum based on the recognition that there is close link between peace, security and stability in Asia and in the rest of the world. The key idea of the Conference is based on the priority of the indivisibility of security, joint initiative and mutually beneficial interaction of small and large states.