China - IOM Chief of Staff, Mr. Ovais Sarmad, addressed the fifth ministerial meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) held yesterday (28 April 2016) in Beijing, People’s Republic of China. The Conference was hosted and chaired by the Foreign Minister of China, Mr. Wang Yi. The Chinese President, H.E. Xi Jinping delivered the opening statement. Several ministers of Foreign Affairs were present including Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey and the Republic of Korea.

In his statement delivered on behalf of the Director General, William Lacy Swing, Mr Sarmad recognized the dual challenge governments face in the area of migration and security. Governments worldwide seek to facilitate movements by streamlining border crossing procedures while maintaining the difficult task of keeping mobility-related threats in check.

“It is important to remember that an essential part of any State’s migration policy is to achieve that crucial balance between facilitation and control,” Mr. Sarmad said.

“They must ensure that migration policies and procedures do not negatively affect national security in any way, whether politically, economically, or otherwise. When thoughtfully formulated, migration polices can, in fact, help address security concerns without doing harm to the legitimate movement of people,” he added.

He added, “Migration policy cannot, in and by itself, prevent terrorism and other security threats, but it is a key part of any comprehensive approach to national and regional security. Together as partners, and through enhanced dialogue, we must do more in areas of border management and capacity building to reinforce systems and frontline defenses. However, it is also important to provide migrants with access to justice systems in order to end the impunity with which many criminal networks operate.”

He further expressed IOM’s readiness to support CICA Member States in their efforts to meet and overcome challenges on mobility.

The Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) is a multi-national forum for enhancing cooperation towards promoting peace, security and stability in Asia. Originally convened in 1992, CICA presently has twenty six Member States accounting for nearly ninety percent of the territory and population of Asia. Eight countries and four multi-national organizations, including United Nations, have the observer status. IOM has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CICA in order to foster closer cooperation.

The Conference concluded and adopted the “Declaration of the Fifth Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia” which focuses on promoting peace, security, stability and sustainable development in Asia through dialogue.