Qatar's Amir Urges Enhanced Asian Cooperation for Security and Development at CICA Summit

Qatar's Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, has called for strengthened cooperation among Asian nations to bolster regional security and translate the continent's vast potential into tangible development gains. He made these remarks while attending the 7th summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Baku, Azerbaijan.

In a statement posted on X on Thursday, Sheikh Tamim expressed his optimism regarding the summit's outcomes, hoping they would contribute to the continent's security and the prosperity of its people. "The shared interests and challenges facing Asian countries call for greater coordination and cooperation, as well as efforts to turn the continent’s vast potential and opportunities into development gains that benefit its peoples," the Amir stated.

On the sidelines of the summit, Sheikh Tamim engaged in separate bilateral meetings with Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev. Discussions with President Mirziyoyev focused on bilateral relations between Doha and Tashkent and explored avenues for enhanced cooperation, alongside regional and international issues of mutual concern. During his meeting with President Aliyev, Sheikh Tamim discussed the development of Qatari-Azerbaijani cooperation across various sectors, exchanged views on pertinent issues, and reviewed key agenda items, particularly those related to regional and international security and stability.

Both meetings were attended by Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Chief of the Amiri Diwan Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, members of the official delegation accompanying the Amir, and officials from the respective countries.

The Amir arrived in Baku on Wednesday and was welcomed at Heydar Aliyev International Airport by Azerbaijan’s Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev, along with the Qatari and Azerbaijani ambassadors.

The 7th CICA summit, hosted by Azerbaijan at the Heydar Aliyev Centre, brings together leaders and representatives from across Asia to deliberate on regional security, stability, and sustainable development. CICA aims to reinforce confidence-building measures and foster collective strategies for addressing shared concerns among its member states. Qatar, a member of CICA since 2014, has actively participated in its diplomatic initiatives, including previous summits and Ministerial Council meetings, as well as discussions held during the 77th United Nations General Assembly in 2022.