Forum Well Positioned to Play Vital World Role, Secretary-General Tells Conference of Foreign Ministers on Interaction and Confidence-Building in Asia

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message, delivered by Alain Noudehou, United Nations Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative, to the fifth Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building in Asia (CICA), in Beijing on 27 April:

I am pleased to convey my greetings to the fifth Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building in Asia (CICA).  I would like to express my gratitude to the host, His Excellency Xi Jinping, President of China, and Chair of CICA.  I would also like to recognize President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan, who first proposed the creation of CICA almost 25 years ago.

Today, CICA represents every region of the vast Asian continent.  It enjoys close contacts with the United Nations, as well as a range of international and regional organizations.  Your organization is well positioned to play an ever-more vital role on the world stage, bringing together a vast array of countries to work together for the common good — including the recently adopted 2030 Development Agenda and the new Sustainable Development Goals.

I also acknowledge the contributions of CICA to advance international efforts to defeat the scourge of terrorism.  In January, I presented to the General Assembly a Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, inviting Member States to develop a national plan that engages key communities and focuses on conflict prevention.  I also commend the timely theme of your meeting: “promoting security through dialogue”.

It is my sincere hope that your deliberations today will represent a step forward in advancing peace, development and human rights, not only in Asia but around the world.  I wish you every success.