By CGTN’s Luo Yu
The non-governmental forum of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) has concluded its second annual meeting in Beijing.
The two-day event called for public support in promoting regional security cooperation among Asian countries, as well as implementing agreements made during the recent Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.
Shivshankar Menon, former Indian National Security Adviser. /CGTN Photo
Shivshankar Menon, former Indian National Security Adviser, spoke of numerous security challenges facing the Asian continent such as cyber security, maritime security, and terrorism.
''Meanwhile, Asia has seen a return of geopolitics. Territorial maritime disputes between states, we have rivalry, strategic competition between states. These are old-fashioned issues which have come back now,'' he added.
Mowaffak Al Rubaie, member of Iraqi Parliament and former Iraqi National Security Adviser. /CGTN Photo
Participants at the forum discussed the challenges to security in Asia, focusing on building a security architecture to promote connectivity under the Belt and Road Initiative, with non-governmental cooperation playing an important part.
"The best insurance policy to secure Asia is through developing the countries one by one, and through this concept of One Belt, One Road to connect people, to connect the economic interests of people, to connect the political power of people. And the power of people, rather than governments only," Mowaffak Al Rubaie, member of the Iraqi Parliament and former Iraqi National Security Adviser, told CGTN in an exclusive interview.
Al Rubaie added that intelligence sharing, security cooperation and coordination between China and Iraq is paramount as the country is the center of gravity for counter-terrorism in the Middle East and the world, while being the shortest route connecting Asia and Europe under the Belt and Road framework.
Former speaker of the Philippines' House of Representatives, Jose de Venecia Jr. /CGTN Photo
Former speaker of the Philippines' House of Representatives, Jose de Venecia Jr. called for more cooperation between China and the Philippines by exploring and co-developing the Maritime Silk Road.
"There is no need for conflict or problems in the South China Sea. The great Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping said we must shelve the issue of sovereignty and together let us explore and develop the South China Sea. This is Deng Xiaoping's formula. And one year before Deng Xiaoping, I made the same formula when I spoke in the Philippines in 1970, and I'm repeating that same formula here today, sharing, co-sharing of resources, co-sharing of wealth," he told CGTN.
Around 300 people attend the discussion of hot regional topics during the forum. /CGTN Photo
"Against the backdrop of the Belt and Road Initiative, enhancing mutual trust and inter-dependence among states not only requires economic mechanisms and cultural exchanges, but also security dialogues like CICA. A secure environment and a practical dialogue mechanism will have a positive effect on the Belt and Road," said Sun Zhuangzhi, Secretary-General of the Center of Shanghai Cooperation Organization Studies with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of CICA and around 300 former statesmen, scholars, experts and the media attended the forum.
Related story:
