In times when his country disputes its maritime sovereignty with neighbours, including Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines, the Chinese president pledged his commitment towards "development through peaceful process", referring to China's role in North Korea's denuclearisation negotiations and rehabilitation work in Afghanistan.
Xi also called for the creation of a new "Silk Route" to strengthen cooperation among Asian countries with greater emphasis on economic ties.
Welcoming the two new member countries, Qatar and Bangladesh, the leader proclaimed that "Asia is the most dynamic and promising region of the current world scenario".
Born out of Kazakhstani president's Nursultan Nazarbayev initiative in 1992, CICA is an organisation with 26 member countries and nine observers ranging from Ukraine to Japan, even including the US.
