Key facts
- Leaders from the Middle East and Asia met in Baku for the 7th CICA Summit.
- Summit focused on conflict resolution, transport, and digital transformation.
- Israel's President Herzog's speech prompted walkouts from some delegations.
- Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb were highlighted.
- China called for an end to Cold War mentality in Asia.
Leaders from across Asia and the Middle East convened in Baku on Thursday for the 7th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA). The summit, engineered by Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev, aimed to foster cooperation and address differences among nations, including those involved in ongoing conflicts.
Attendees included Israel's President Isaac Herzog, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Khalifa bin Shaheen Al Marar, and a Palestinian delegation led by foreign minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin. Presidents from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, along with China's foreign minister Wang Yi and leaders from Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, and Sri Lanka also participated.
The summit focused on conflict resolution, transport connectivity, and digital transformation. Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed a CICA transport connectivity strategy, and Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan inaugurated the Trans-Caspian fibre-optic cable line. Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev called for an "infrastructure of trust in Asia."
Tensions were evident when delegations from Turkey, Iran, Kuwait, and Pakistan left the hall during Israeli President Herzog's address. Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Dr Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani highlighted disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, while China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged an end to Cold War mentality in Asia and called for unimpeded shipping lanes. Palestine's Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin addressed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.