Vietnam proposes three key directions for CICA cooperation

CICA seeks stronger cooperation amid global changes

In her speech at the seventh CICA Summit in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, on October 15, Xuan commended the organisation’s more than three decades of development and its important contributions to promoting dialogue, enhancing mutual understanding and building trust among countries, thereby helping maintain peace and stability and expand cooperation across Asia.

Amidst profound changes in the global and regional landscape, she stressed that CICA should continue to innovate and advance its transformation to improve operational effectiveness and promote substantive cooperation. This commitment, she noted, has been strongly reaffirmed in key documents adopted at the summit.

She also welcomed the summit’s theme, “Stronger CICA: Connectivity, Digitalisation and Sustainable Growth in Asia”, describing it as a practical direction for fostering fair and transparent connectivity, expanding opportunities through inclusive digitalisation, and sharing the benefits of development to achieve shared prosperity and build a stronger CICA.

Vietnam advances proposals for peace, connectivity and shared prosperity

In this context, the Vietnamese Vice President outlined three key directions for CICA, beginning with the need to uphold international law as the foundation for trust. She underlined the importance of multilateralism and the central role of the United Nations, noting that cooperation and the settlement of disputes should be guided by the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law. These include respect for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in internal affairs, refraining from the use or threat of force, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. Vietnam urged countries to resolve regional conflicts through peaceful means and in accordance with international law.

Alongside respect for international law, Xuan highlighted the importance of closer coordination in preventing and responding to common challenges. She called for stronger information exchange, sustained communication and coordinated responses to risks in areas including political and military affairs, cybersecurity, energy and water security, climate change and natural disasters. She also underscored the need to expand cooperation between CICA, ASEAN and other regional mechanisms, strengthening links between Southeast Asia, Central Asia and the wider Eurasian region.

Beyond security cooperation, the Vietnamese Vice President pointed to stronger economic, technological and cultural connectivity as another key driver of sustainable development. This would involve improving infrastructure, transport and supply-chain links, while expanding cooperation in education, science and technology, innovation, digitalisation, green transformation and artificial intelligence.

She also highlighted the importance of connecting financial and credit resources and mobilising funding and humanitarian assistance to narrow development gaps and broaden opportunities for countries facing greater difficulties. Greater cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, she added, could turn cultural diversity into an asset for cooperation and sustainable development.

On the occasion, Xuan informed participant son Vietnam’s achievements after 40 years of Doi Moi (Renewal), affirming that the country has laid a solid foundation for a new phase of development.

Vietnam aims to become a developing country with modern industry and upper-middle income status by 2030, and a developed, high-income country by 2045. It stands ready to share its experience and work alongside CICA members to advance cooperation in areas of common interest. It will continue to build and strengthen trust through concrete and practical actions towards a peaceful, connected and prosperous Asia.

The seventh CICA Summit was held in Baku, Azerbaijan, on October 15 under the chairmanship of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The summit brought together heads of state, government, parliament as well as ministers from 32 member and observer countries, as well as representatives of five international and regional organisations.

Established in 1992 at the initiative of former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, CICA seeks to coordinate efforts to address major issues in Asia and promote cooperation among its members in areas including security, economic and financial affairs, sustainable development, the environment, healthcare, energy, information technology, humanitarian affairs and the fight against terrorism and transnational crime.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan leads Vietnamese delegation at 7th CICA Summit

VOV.VN - Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan led the Vietnamese delegation and delivered a speech at the 7th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), which opened in Baku, Azerbaijan, on October 15.