Astana, 10 June 2023 (TDI): The President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, met with a delegation from the United Nations (UN), including UN Deputy Secretary General Armida Alisjaban, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Miroslav Enchi, and Assistant UN Development Program Administrator, Ivana Živković.
The meeting aimed to discuss avenues for Kazakhstan and UN organizations to develop multilateral cooperation and share perspectives on current global and regional challenges.
President Tokayev expressed his gratitude to the diplomats for actively participating in the Astana International Forum. Additionally, he acknowledged their contributions to the forum’s success.
Tokayev emphasized the distinct role of the UN in strengthening peace, ensuring security, and promoting global development. He further highlighted the necessity for comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council and the significance of expanding its representation to enhance its effectiveness.
The President reiterated Kazakhstan’s support to the United Nations. He noted its desire to work with the organization to enhance its global role. Over 20 UN branches are currently operating effectively in Kazakhstan.
Officials discussed the establishment of a regional center for sustainable development goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty, recognizing the essence of regional cooperation. This center would enhance coordination between UN agencies and regional governments, facilitating the advancement of the 2030 agenda.
The high-ranking diplomats shared their positive impressions of the Astana International Forum, underlining its strategic importance in addressing contemporary challenges. The session also underscored the strategic role of Central Asia in terms of its transport-logistics potential and the ongoing digitalization process.
In closing, President Tokayev conveyed a heartfelt greeting to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, further reinforcing Kazakhstan’s commitment to collaboration and advancing shared goals within the United Nations.
Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Met with UNESCO Director-General
Murat Nurtleu, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, recently met with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, who made her first official visit to Kazakhstan.
The meeting aimed to bolster Kazakhstan-UNESCO’s cooperation in education, research, and culture, as stipulated in the UNESCO Charter.
Foreign Minister Nurtleu appreciated UNESCO for their ongoing support of Kazakhstan’s endeavors and nominations, underlining that cooperation between the two entities is critical to attaining UNESCO’s global goals.
In particular, he pledged to Director-General Azoulay that Kazakhstan would continue to work with UNESCO’s strategic goals of increasing access to education, science, technology, and information worldwide.
Director-General Azoulay underlined her commitment to working with Kazakhstan to promote inclusive and sustainable development. She emphasized areas of mutual interest, such as enhancing education quality, biodiversity protection, cultural variety promotion, and media development.
Azoulay also highlighted her desire to help Kazakhstan implement essential reforms within the Organization’s mandate. Most importantly, she expressed strong enthusiasm for implementing new projects, particularly those with a regional focus on education, research, and culture.
She announced the transformation of the UNESCO Almaty Cluster Office into a Multi-Sectoral Regional Office of the Organization, highlighting UNESCO’s commitment to regional cooperation and her belief in Kazakhstan’s potential as a hub for encouraging collaboration and innovation.
Meetings of First Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan with UN Delegation
The First Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, Kairat Umarov, met with Ivana Živković, the UN Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Director of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for Europe and the CIS.
The conversations focused on the importance of the ongoing partnership between Kazakhstan and UNDP, highlighting the shared commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the significant contribution of UNDP to the country’s development.
In the context of the UN system, Umarov stressed that Kazakhstan’s cooperation with UNDP is a primary focus, particularly regarding the SDGs.
He expressed gratitude for UNDP‘s long-standing support in combating poverty, addressing social vulnerability and inequality, promoting climate resilience, fostering low-carbon development, establishing effective institutions, and fostering diversified economic growth.
Underlining Kazakhstan’s dedication to achieving the SDGs, Umarov emphasized the importance of Kazakhstan’s initiative to establish the UN Regional Center on SDGs in Almaty, which will cater to Central Asia and Afghanistan.
This endeavor, aligned with the ongoing reform of the UN development system, highlights Kazakhstan’s commitment to regional cooperation and sustainable development in the broader context.
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Živković acknowledged Kazakhstan and UNDP’s excellent collaboration, expressing gratitude for Kazakhstan’s assistance in promoting UNDP’s areas of concern. She reiterated her belief in the multidimensional partnership needed to achieve the SDGs.
Long-term partnership and trust built over time were lauded as critical to success. By working together, Kazakhstan and UNDP aim to make significant strides in eradicating poverty, fostering inclusive growth, and building a prosperous future for all.
In another appointment, the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Kairat Umarov, met with Armida Alisjabana, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
The discussion focused on enhancing cooperation between Kazakhstan and ESCAP in various key areas, including trade, transit-transport logistics, economic integration, energy, and digitalization.
Umarov emphasized the significance of collaboration between Kazakhstan and ESCAP in achieving sustainable development objectives, particularly within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development framework.
He highlighted the importance of establishing the United Nations Regional Hub in Almaty as a cornerstone for fostering peace, security, and sustainable development in the Central Asian region. Kazakhstan is committed to actively implementing the 2030 Agenda at national and regional levels.
Armida Alisjabana expressed her gratitude to Kazakhstan for its unwavering support of ESCAP’s initiatives and activities. She commended Kazakhstan’s dedication to establishing a Center for Digital Solutions for Sustainable Development in Central Asia, which addresses pressing regional challenges.
Furthermore, Alisjabana commended the Commission’s passage of a resolution to convene the first ESCAP Ministerial Conference on Digital Transformation and Inclusiveness in Astana in 2024, reflecting Kazakhstan’s growing role as a regional leader in digital development.
In light of Central Asia’s deteriorating climate, both authorities emphasized the importance of enhancing regional cooperation in water and energy.
Promoting sustainable water management methods and encouraging collaboration in the energy sector are critical for maintaining the region’s long-term socio-economic development, given the increasing consumption of water resources for agricultural and industrial purposes.
Kazakhstan and the UN delegation had successful sessions, showing their shared commitment to addressing the region’s most significant challenges to sustainable development.
Kazakhstan seeks to become a model for effective regional sustainable development by exploiting its strategic location and resources to contribute to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.
