The Head of State noted that the visit of such a high-level delegation provides an excellent opportunity to discuss the UN’s role in addressing environmental challenges in Central Asia and beyond.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highly appreciated the active engagement of the United Nations in the preparation of the Regional Ecological Summit and its substantive contribution to the program.
As the Head of State emphasized, against a backdrop of growing geopolitical turbulence, it is particularly important to coordinate efforts in response to current challenges, including climate change, environmental degradation, and water scarcity.
"You know that Kazakhstan is a great supporter of effective multilateral diplomacy. We meet at a time of growing uncertainties and unpredictabilities; geopolitical tensions are rising and the logic of force is increasingly prevailing over the norms of international law. Yesterday, I was speaking about all those very complex issues that we need to tackle as a consolidated international community within the United Nations and beyond," the President noted.
The President underlined the indispensable role of the UN as a universal international platform capable of bringing together countries to tackle global challenges. In this context, he reiterated his support for the Secretary-General’s UN80 initiative aimed at making the Organization more effective and responsive.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev briefed the members of the UN delegation on far-reaching reforms in Kazakhstan intended to build a Just, Strong, and Forward-looking state.
UN representatives commended the level of organization of the Regional Environmental Summit, as well as the address delivered by the President of Kazakhstan at the plenary session. They noted that the messages conveyed by Kassym-Jomart Tokayev had lent the discussion a substantive and constructive character, confirming the relevance of the initiatives promoted by Kazakhstan.
The members of the UN delegation also informed the Head of State about their current activities and ongoing projects in sustainable development, the climate agenda, water security, disaster risk reduction, and food security.
Special attention was paid to the global initiatives of Kazakhstan. The President reiterated his commitment to the idea of establishing an International Water Organization under the auspices of the UN, and also stressed the importance of the UN Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty as a key platform for regional cooperation.
In conclusion, the President confirmed the country’s readiness to further strengthen cooperation with the UN in the interests of sustainable development, stability, and shared prosperity.
The participants included Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs; Haoliang Xu, UN Under-Secretary-General and Deputy Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme; Tatiana Molcean, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe; Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction; Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization; Jim Skea, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; Viorel Gutu, FAO Deputy Director-General and Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia.
