OMM Newsroom
Azerbaijan will host the seventh summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Baku on Thursday, October 15. Agreements reached ahead of the summit could extend Azerbaijan’s leadership of the Asian security forum through 2028.
At a meeting on October 14, CICA’s Committee of Senior Officials agreed to extend Azerbaijan’s chairmanship for 2026–2028. The committee also approved a draft decision to appoint Azerbaijan’s candidate, diplomat Sultan Hajiyev, as secretary-general for 2026–2030.
According to the CICA Secretariat, officials finalized a draft Baku Declaration to be submitted to heads of state for discussion at the summit, as well as a statement on occupational safety and health.
During preparations, Laos signed CICA’s founding documents, bringing it a step closer to becoming the organization’s 29th member. Cambodia completed the ratification process required for a convention regulating the Secretariat’s privileges and immunities to enter into force.
The gathering of heads of state and senior officials in Baku for the summit puts Azerbaijan’s role in discussions among countries with diverse political, economic and security interests in focus.
What is CICA and how does it work?
CICA is a multilateral forum aimed at promoting peace, security and stability in Asia. It supports dialogue, cooperation and confidence-building measures among countries.
Unlike military alliances, CICA does not provide collective defense guarantees. Its purpose includes encouraging communication and cooperation among governments whose regional interests may conflict.
According to the CICA Secretariat, the organization’s 28 member states account for about 90 percent of Asia’s territory and population. Its permanent secretariat is based in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The idea for CICA was proposed by Kazakhstan’s then-President Nursultan Nazarbayev at the United Nations General Assembly on October 5, 1992. The initiative envisaged creating a continent-wide platform for discussing security issues in Asia through dialogue.
In 1999, foreign ministers adopted a declaration on the principles governing relations among member states in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The first CICA summit was held in 2002, when the Almaty Act, which set out the forum’s goals and principles, was adopted. Member states approved a catalogue of confidence-building measures in 2004, and the Secretariat was established in 2006.
At the sixth summit, held in Astana in 2022, leaders decided to begin the process of transforming CICA into a fully-fledged international organization.
CICA makes decisions by consensus, requiring the agreement of member states. Its highest decision-making body is the summit of heads of state or government. Foreign ministers, senior officials and working groups oversee cooperation between summits.
The forum’s work covers five areas: economic cooperation, the environment, human development, new challenges and confidence-building in the military-political sphere. Topics include transport links, energy security, cybersecurity, counterterrorism, disaster management, trade and investment.
Azerbaijan’s chairmanship and the Baku summit agenda
Azerbaijan, one of CICA’s founding members, currently chairs the organization. Its priorities include transport connectivity, digitalization and sustainable development, as well as supporting the forum’s transformation into a more formally structured international organization.
On October 14, senior officials agreed to extend Azerbaijan’s chairmanship for a further two years, covering 2026–2028. They also approved a draft decision on Sultan Hajiyev’s candidacy for the post of secretary-general for 2026–2030. If formally confirmed, he will replace Kairat Sarybay, who has led the Secretariat for six years.
Ahead of the summit, President Ilham Aliyev met officials and leaders arriving in Baku, including Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan.
Ilham Aliyev discussed strategic cooperation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, including Azerbaijan’s role in the Middle Corridor transport network. During his meeting with Herzog, the Israeli president praised Azerbaijan’s chairmanship and described the proposed extension as a sign of confidence in the country’s leadership.
CICA’s agenda is not limited to traditional security issues; economic cooperation, transport infrastructure and regional connectivity are also among the forum’s areas of discussion. This makes the organization relevant to Azerbaijan’s position on the Middle Corridor, which links China and Central Asia with Europe via the Caspian Sea and the South Caucasus.
Azerbaijan’s ports and railway links with Georgia and Türkiye form part of efforts to diversify trade routes between Asia and Europe. According to local media, diplomatic meetings held around the summit have also focused on opportunities for cooperation in transport, renewable energy and trade. Stronger links through Azerbaijan could give Central Asian countries additional access to western markets. However, the development of new investments and functioning transport corridors depends on infrastructure, commercial agreements and sustained political cooperation.
At the seventh summit, officials are expected to discuss the draft Baku Declaration and a statement on cooperation in occupational safety and health, both finalized on October 14. The proposed appointment of Sultan Hajiyev as secretary-general is also among the institutional matters awaiting final approval.
Cambodia’s ratification of the convention on the privileges and immunities of the CICA Secretariat has met the threshold required for the document to enter into force. The convention is due to take effect 30 days after its deposit on October 14. It sets out legal protections and working conditions for the Secretariat and its representatives.
On October 14, Laos signed two of CICA’s founding documents: the 1999 Declaration and the 2002 Almaty Act. Laos has previously announced its intention to move from observer status to full membership; its admission would bring the forum’s membership to 29.
CICA’s 28 members are Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, South Korea, Russia, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. Observer states and international organizations also participate in the forum’s work. Membership is open to countries with at least part of their territory in Asia.
