Chinese ambassador Gao Youzhen has expressed confidence that Qatar, as a new member state at the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, will further contribute to peace, stability and development in the region.

HE Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Mahmoud has signed the “instrument of accession” to CICA to become a member state after having the observer status. He also chairs Qatar’s delegation to the 4th CICA Summit which began in Shanghai, China yesterday and which will end today.

“Qatar is an Asian country with great vitality in development and growing influence in international and regional affairs,” said Youzhen in a press statement.

Some 46 participants, mostly leaders and representatives of countries and international organisations, have attended the event including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

At least 11 are heads of state, one head of government and 10 heads of international organisations.

CICA is a multi-national forum for enhancing co-operation towards promoting peace, security and stability in Asia. China is one of the founding members and will chair the conference for the first time from 2014 to 2016.

“Asia is the most dynamic and promising region in development, but also a vulnerable region with complicated and volatile security threats,” said Youzhen.

China has proposed a new Asian security concept featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and co-ordination in a bid to achieve common, comprehensive and sustainable security.

The ambassador also said that CICA member states are expected to issue a Shanghai Declaration, elaborating their common aspirations and commitments to strengthen strategic co-ordination and building an integrated security environment.

The summit promotes practical co-operation among Asian countries in fighting terrorism, transnational crimes and drug-trafficking.

Citing the two countries’ friendly and co-operative relationship, the ambassador stressed that they have rendered staunch support for Qatar joining CICA.

He noted that Qatar and China are expected to deepen their co-operation in politics, economy, energy, investment, culture and in other fields.