Kim Hyun-bin began his journalism career at Arirang TV from 2012 to 2017, specializing in defense, foreign affairs and the economy. In 2018, he joined The Korea Times, covering society and business, and is currently responsible for embassy affairs.
CICA aims to enhance multilateral diplomacy, regional cooperation
CICA Secretary General Kairat Sarybay, left, meets with KOICA President Chang Won-sam at the KOICA office in Seoul, Aug. 16. Courtesy of Embassy of Kazakhstan in Seoul
By Kim Hyun-bin
Ambassador Kairat Sarybay, the secretary general of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), completed a successful visit to Korea from Aug. 14 to 16. During his visit, Sarybay engaged in a series of high-level consultations aimed at enhancing multilateral diplomacy and strengthening CICA's role in fostering confidence and cooperation across Asia.
The visit began with a meeting with Baek Joo-hyeon, a former Korean ambassador to Kazakhstan and a candidate for the CICA Council of Eminent Persons. The two diplomats emphasized the need for robust multilateral diplomacy and discussed the potential for CICA to play a pivotal role in enhancing regional trust and cooperation.
In a subsequent meeting with Kang Young-shin, the director general for Northeast and Central Asian Affairs at Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sarybay focused on the ongoing transformation of CICA. Their discussions covered proposed statutory changes, reforms in budgetary and human resources, and the introduction of mandatory financial contributions. The secretary general praised Korea for its consistent financial support and recognized the country's coordinating efforts in priority areas such as energy security and information technology.
Sarybay also held talks with Choe Hyoung-chan, the newly appointed chancellor of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy. The discussions centered on the transformation of CICA and its significance in bolstering Korea's global influence.
Further, during a meeting with Ambassador Chang Won-sam, president of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Sarybay explored ways for Korea to support CICA's confidence-building measures and the operationalization of the CICA Fund. They also agreed to explore potential synergy in international assistance projects, including possible collaborations between the CICA Secretariat and KazAID, KOICA's partner organization.