Qatar’s Amir calls for stronger Asian cooperation at CICA summit in Baku

Sheikh Tamim called for stronger Asian cooperation to boost regional security and turn the continent’s potential into development gains.

Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani called for greater cooperation among Asian countries to strengthen regional security and drive economic development, as he attended the 7th summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Baku, Azerbaijan.

In a post on X on Thursday, Sheikh Tamim welcomed the summit’s convening and expressed hope that its outcomes would contribute to the security of the continent and the prosperity of its peoples.

“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 said.

On the sidelines of the summit, Sheikh Tamim also held separate meetings with Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev to discuss bilateral relations and regional and international developments.

During his meeting with Mirziyoyev, the two leaders reviewed relations between Doha and Tashkent and explored ways to strengthen cooperation. They also discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest.

In his meeting with Aliyev, Sheikh Tamim discussed ways to develop Qatari-Azerbaijani cooperation across various fields, exchanged views on issues of mutual interest and reviewed key items on the summit’s agenda, particularly those concerning 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 and members of the official delegation accompanying the Amir, alongside officials from the respective countries.

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

Strengthening cooperation across Asia

Hosted by Azerbaijan at the Heydar Aliyev Centre on Thursday, the 7th CICA summit brings together leaders and representatives from across Asia to discuss regional security, stability and sustainable development.

According to CICA, the summit aims to strengthen confidence-building measures and encourage collective approaches to issues of shared concern among member states.

Qatar joined CICA in 2014 and has since participated in its diplomatic initiatives, including the 6th summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, and meetings of the organisation’s Ministerial Council.

Qatar has also taken part in CICA discussions on the sidelines of the 77th United Nations General Assembly in 2022.