The External Affairs Minister recently addressed the 6th Ministerial (2021) meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures (CICA) in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. This event has caught the attention of the international community because last year, Kazakhstan assumed the chairmanship of CICA. The previous, 5th meeting, took place in Beijing in 2016.
Kazakhstan Chairmanship of CICA
In recent news, Kazakhstan has assumed the chairmanship of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures (CICA). The 6th Ministerial meeting took place this year in the capital of Kazakhstan, Nur-Sultan, where discussions focused on a range of issues from vaccine diplomacy to multilateralism.
India’s Vaccine Maitri Initiative
India’s internationalism, embodied in the principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family), led to the launch of its Vaccine Maitri (Vaccine Friendship) initiative in January 2021. This significant diplomatic effort aims to provide made-in-India vaccines to low-income and developing countries across the globe.
Collective Resolve Against Transnational Crimes
The Minister also highlighted the need for collective resolve against cross-border terrorism, arms trafficking, drug trade, and other forms of cross-national crimes. He urged member nations to strengthen their cooperative efforts in fighting these scourges that pose international security challenges.
Promoting Multilateralism in Decision Making
The minister emphasized that Asia, as well as Africa and Latin America, are inadequately represented in United Nations’ decision-making, calling for more inclusive global governance. The recent limitations of the multilateral response to the Covid pandemic have only intensified the urgency of reformed multilateralism in his view.
Addressing the Afghanistan Issue
India reiterated the importance of the Taliban regime meeting international expectations, as laid out in UN Security Council Resolution 2593. This resolution demands that Afghan territory should not be used to shelter, train, or finance terrorist activities.
Connectivity and Sovereignty Issues
The forum also touched upon connectivity issues, stressing the need for sovereignty and territorial integrity in international relations—an inferred critique of China’s ambitious infrastructure plans under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The CICA Forum
Founded with the aim of strengthening regional cooperation and ensuring peace, security, and stability in Asia, the CICA is an intergovernmental forum. First proposed by Kazakhstan’s first President Nursultan Nazarbayev in 1992, the inaugural CICA summit was held in June 2002.
Decision Making and Membership in CICA
CICA’s highest decision making organ is the Meeting of the CICA Heads of State and Government (Summit) convened every four years. The Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs is held every two years. The forum includes 27 Asian countries and nine observer states, along with five international organizations.
CICA’s Confidence Building Measures (CBMs)
India co-chairs two CICA CBMs on ‘Development of Secure and Effective Systems of Transportation Corridors,’ and ‘Energy Security’. Since June 2006, the CICA Secretariat has been located in Almaty, Kazakhstan.