Azerbaijan Could Take Asian Security Cooperation to a New Level, Expert Says

Azerbaijan's extended chairmanship of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) until 2028 opens new opportunities for regional cooperation, security and joint economic projects, according to Ranokhon Tursunova, a professor at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in Tashkent. She spoke to Day.az about the outcomes of the 7th CICA summit, held in Baku on 15 October.

Tursunova said the summit demonstrated member states' shared commitment to peace, security and stability based on respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the non-use of force. She stressed the need to adapt the agenda to changing geopolitical conditions, with particular attention to counterterrorism, countering extremism, drug trafficking and transnational organised crime. She also pointed to cooperation in trade, investment, transport corridors and cultural exchange.

Tursunova described the extended chairmanship as a sign of member states' trust in Azerbaijan. She called the goal of transforming CICA into a full international organisation ambitious but realistic, saying it could make joint efforts more effective and could give Uzbekistan wider opportunities to advance its national interests.