In a significant diplomatic development, Cambodia played a pivotal role in the 7th Ministerial Council Meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) held on December 17, 2024. At the meeting, His Excellency Meas Kim Heng, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, represented Cambodia as its high representative.
During the meeting, Cambodia extended its congratulations to Azerbaijan for assuming the Chairmanship of CICA in the coming years and expressed appreciation for Kazakhstan's valuable contributions during their past Chairmanship. His Excellency emphasized that this year marked the 25th Anniversary of the Declaration on the Principles Guiding Relations among CICA member states, which has guided CICA's efforts to address key challenges in a consensus-based manner.
As a key player in regional diplomacy, Cambodia highlighted its commitment to collaboration and mutual understanding among CICA member states. The meeting recognized the importance of peace, security, and development as mutually reinforcing concepts and reaffirmed the CICA Catalogue of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) as a core instrument for guiding voluntary implementation of CBMs.
The CICA Ministerial Council Meeting adopted four important documents, including the CICA Ministerial Council Statement on the 25th Anniversary of the Declaration on the Principles Guiding Relations among CICA Member States, Decision on Modalities of Implementation of CICA Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), CICA Catalogue of Confidence Building Measures, and Memorandum of Establishment of the Partnership Network of Leading Universities (PNLU) of CICA Member States.
Cambodia's active participation in regional forums such as CICA underscores its commitment to promoting peace, security, and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. The adoption of these documents demonstrates Cambodia's dedication to fostering a multilateral trading system that contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
The significance of this development lies in Cambodia's ability to consolidate its regional influence while promoting peaceful coexistence and mutual benefit among CICA member states. As the Chairperson of CICA, Cambodia will play a crucial role in shaping the organization's agenda and promoting cooperation among member states.
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Conclusion:
The adoption of these important documents at the CICA Ministerial Council Meeting underscores Cambodia's commitment to promoting regional peace, security, and cooperation. As the Chairperson of CICA, Cambodia will play a pivotal role in shaping the organization's agenda and fostering mutual understanding among member states.