CICA summit in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan's capital has become the venue for a major international forum. Astana is hosting the sixth summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia. President of Belarus A. Lukashenko is also taking part in the summit. Several dozen delegations from different countries have arrived at the forum. The summit brings together 27 member states and nine observer states (Belarus is one of them). All heads of delegations are expected at the forum. The agenda features an updated catalogue of confidence-building measures in Asia and its transformation into a full-fledged international organization. Its main goal is to strengthen relations and cooperation of Asian and Eurasian states to ensure stability and security in the region. At the same time, the platform discusses not only geopolitical issues, but also trade and economic cooperation. The potential of all participants – and that is more than 90% of the territory of Asia – is about two-thirds of global GDP. The role of the East in the world is growing. And Belarus's interest in it is quite logical. Today, against the backdrop of Western sanction pressure and unwillingness to engage in constructive dialogue, a U-turn towards Asia is a priority for our country, both politically and economically.