China calls for CICA's bigger role in regional security

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Chinese Foreign Minister, also State Councilor, Wang Yi urged an Asian regional security forum to enhance security cooperation.

Wang, who is in New York for the 73rd United Nations General Assembly, met his counterparts from the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) on Monday.

Wang said that China has made efforts in building the CICA a security cooperation mechanism that has the widest coverage, largest membership and most representation in Asia, and the forum has played an important and constructive role in promoting regional stability and prosperity.

He said the forum should enhance sustained peace and security, win-win development, innovative transformation, and inclusive partnership in the future.

All the CICA members shall confront resolutely against unilateralism, protectionism and hegemony, in a bid to promote fairer multilateralism and build a new type of international relations, Wang said, calling on the CICA members continuously building political trust.

(Foreign Ministers from CICA members meet in New York, Sept. 24, 2018. /Minister of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Turkey Photo)

For their parts, foreign ministers of countries including Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Turkey and Pakistan spoke highly of China's contribution to the forum.

They agreed to grasp the new opportunities brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative, actively promote fair and just multilateralism, build a new type of international relations, and forge a community of shared interests, responsibility and future.

The regional security forum was established in 1992 as a forum for dialogue and consultation on security issues in Asia. Among its 26 member countries are China, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia and Thailand. It also includes other countries and international organizations as observers.

(Top image: Foreign Ministers from CICA members meet in New York, Sept. 24, 2018. /Minister of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Turkey Photo)

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency