The VI Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) ended in Astana. The event coincided with the 30th anniversary of the initiative to convene CICA and was chaired by its host, Kazakhstan.
The leaders of the member states such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Iran, Qatar, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Palestine met in person for the first time since 2020.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived at the summit and took part in three international events: the VI Summit on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, the meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State, which began today, and the Russia-Central Asia Summit. The CICA summit was a resounding and incredible success during which a number of historic decisions were adopted.
Thus, an inclusive and transparent negotiation process of gradual transformation of this organization into an international one was launched, and such transformation of this platform significantly strengthens the leverage of Asian states on world processes and allows them to play a global role.
A memorandum of understanding was signed at the forum between the Eurasian Economic Commission and the CICA Secretariat.
It is also worth noting that the adoption of the provision on the establishment of the CICA fund, which will be an additional mechanism of voluntary funding to support the implementation of projects of this organization. Control over the fund will be carried out by all CICA member states. The summit also touched upon the issue of functioning of the so-called grain corridor.
During their meeting in Astana, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan discussed the situation in Syria and the conflict in Ukraine, as well as bilateral Russian-Turkish relations. In addition, the two leaders exchanged views on current issues.
Of course, Putin's proposal to transfer the transit of Russian gas to Europe from the pipelines of both Nord Streams to the Black Sea and the creation of the largest gas hub in the region in Turkey did not go unnoticed. “Turkey turned out to be the most reliable route for gas supplies to Europe today thanks to your position, Mr. President, and your firm stance on the construction of the Turkish Stream gas transmission system,” Putin said.
Turkey has shown great interest and approved Russia's initiative. The issue related to the creation of the Turkish gas hub will be promptly elaborated and implemented. “The agencies will immediately begin joint work. We are taking all kinds of security measures and carrying out preliminary work in this direction. Together with President Vladimir Putin, we have instructed the energy ministers to begin the relevant work,” Erdogan said.
The Russian President believes that Asia will play a prominent and perhaps “key role” in this process as a multipolar world emerges. Russia stands for the prosperity of this continent, which needs mutually beneficial trade and investment cooperation, Putin stressed.
Today, the Russian leader is taking part in a meeting of the Council of CIS Heads of State, which opened in Astana. This political event takes place behind closed doors. Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev, the host of the event, specified that issues related to humanitarian space, security, and many other aspects of cooperation will be presented for consideration of the heads of states. Meanwhile, the press service of the president of Kazakhstan has already reported that on October 14 in Astana, following the meeting of the Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a number of documents were signed aimed at further development and strengthening of integration relations in trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres, as well as in the area of security.