State Minister for Foreign Affairs H.E. Humaiun Kobir reaffirmed Bangladesh's commitment to advance regional cooperation among Asian countries during the plenary session of the 7th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Baku.
He announced three concrete proposals: results‑oriented sectoral projects backed by formal follow‑up mechanisms, increased in‑person events to broaden stakeholder participation, and strengthened exchanges among member states' ICT institutions to build a safe, open, and trusted digital space.
The summit, chaired by Azerbaijan, carried the theme "A Stronger CICA: Connectivity, Digitalization, and Sustainable Growth in Asia," underscoring priorities that Kobir said are vital for the peoples of Asia.
Kobir also called for a clear legal status for CICA, a strengthened Secretariat, predictable financing, and effective decision‑making to enhance the forum's impact.
During the meeting, Lao PDR became the 29th member of the Pan‑Asian forum, expanding its membership base.
The summit endorsed Azerbaijan's chairmanship for the 2026‑28 period and appointed H.E. Sultan Hajiyev as the next Secretary General of CICA.
Bangladesh hopes the proposals will foster meaningful partnerships, digital trust, and collaborative projects across member states, reinforcing its role in regional multilateral diplomacy.
Why it matters
The proposals aim to strengthen regional digital infrastructure and cooperation, directly supporting Bangladesh’s goal of deeper engagement in Asian multilateral forums.