Kazakhstan Puts Forward New Initiatives on Security, Energy and Digital Cooperation at CICA Summit in Baku
President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev participated in the 7th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), held in Baku, on October 15, 2026.
In his address, the Head of State outlined a comprehensive set of initiatives aimed at strengthening CICA’s institutional framework, developing transport and energy corridors, advancing digital transformation, and addressing global environmental challenges.
Regarding institutional development, the President called for transforming CICA into a full-fledged international organization and expressed hope for the early adoption of its Charter.
To translate political declarations into concrete initiatives, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed launching a a Mechanism for Preventive Diplomacy. The mechanism is intended to help prevent conflicts before they emerge, facilitate the peaceful settlement of disputes, and translate declarations into coordinated action. He also welcomed Laos as a full-fledged member state of CICA and called for closer cooperation between the Conference and the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and other international institutions to help bridge differences across Asia and beyond.
Particular attention was given to digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI). The Head of State proposed adding artificial intelligence to CICA’s five existing dimensions of cooperation, extending confidence-building measures into the digital domain and developing common approaches to managing the risks associated with emerging technologies.
In this context, the President recalled that Almaty would host the UN ESCAP Asia-Pacific Digital Solutions Centre for Sustainable Development and invited CICA member states to join the Centre’s work.
He also highlighted the strategic importance of the joint project with Azerbaijan to build the Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Line beneath the Caspian Sea. The project is expected to ensure faster and more secure data transmission across Eurasia.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed developing a CICA Transport Connectivity Strategy. The strategy is intended to assess the potential of major international transport routes, including the Belt and Road Initiative, the North–South International Transport Corridor, the Middle Corridor, and the TRIPP initiative.
On energy, the President highlighted cooperation between Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan to develop green energy supplies. This strategic partnership lays the groundwork for a Caspian Green Energy Corridor, which is envisaged to connect the power systems of the three countries and enable their further integration with European markets via the Black Sea. In addition, Kazakhstan reaffirmed its readiness to steadily increase shipments of Kazakh oil through the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline in cooperation with Azerbaijan.
An important part of the address focused on cooperation in water resources, ecology and human capital. Against the backdrop of water scarcity and ecosystem degradation, the Head of State proposed establishing a CICA Water Partnership to promote technology exchange, joint research and the deployment of water-saving solutions. He also proposed that Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan jointly advance Kazakhstan’s initiative to establish an International Water Organization within the United Nations system, with the initiative remaining open to all CICA member states.
The President also called on all CICA member states to work towards establishing a CICA Human Capital Partnership. Kazakhstan is ready to launch a Research Fellowship in Security and Confidence Building next year, provide scholarships for students from all 28 CICA member states, and offer research grants to scholars from participating countries.
Concluding his address, the President of Kazakhstan wished Azerbaijan every success in continuing its chairmanship of CICA and expressed confidence that the Baku Declaration, to be adopted at the Summit, would provide a solid foundation for further work.