The State of Qatar signed Tuesday the instrument of accession to the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) to become a member state after having the observer status. The instrument of accession was signed by HE Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ahmad bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, who is chairing Qatar’s delegation to the two-day Conference, due to kick off later today. Speaking in a press conference after signing the instrument, HE the Deputy Premier expressed pleasure that the State of Qatar has become a member state of the CICA. HE the Deputy Premier believed that the Conference, during the presidency of the People’s Republic of China, would succeed to positively contribute to building confidence and enhancing cooperation among the Asian countries. He praised China’s active and important role as a country and as a member of the UN Security Council that is responsible for international peace and security. HE the Deputy Prime Minister underlined that Qatar and China enjoy a strategic relationship, and highlighted China’s role in bolstering mutual cooperation between the two countries during this period. The State of Qatar is looking forward to further developing cooperation with China in the fields of energy, economy, politics and investment, HE the Deputy Premier and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs said. 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 CICA has more than twenty Member States accounting for nearly ninety percent of the territory and population of Asia, in addition to several countries and multi-national organizations, including United Nations, that have the observer status.