Astana, Aug 3 (EFE) – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres presided Sunday over the signing of an agreement to establish a United Nations Regional Center for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Central Asia and Afghanistan.
The signing ceremony was held in Almaty—Kazakhstan’s former capital and largest city. It formalized the agreement between the Kazakh government and the United Nations, according to a statement from the Kazakh presidential office.
High-level support for the UN SDG initiative
On behalf of Kazakhstan, the agreement was signed by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu. Representing the UN was Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua.
“This event sends an important and powerful message to the entire international community about the significance of Central Asia, which is becoming an increasingly important actor on the global stage,” Tokayev said, according to a statement released by his press office following a meeting with Guterres ahead of the signing.
The UN regional center aims to strengthen cooperation and accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals in a region that faces complex development, environmental, and geopolitical challenges.
Kazakhstan’s diplomatic role and support for UN reform
The Kazakh leader also expressed strong support for Our Common Agenda, the UN80 initiative. Guterres launched the initiative to modernize the international organization and improve its ability to address 21st-century global challenges.
“Kazakhstan fully supports your efforts to reform the UN and shares your priorities,” Tokayev told the UN chief, who is making his third visit to the Central Asian country.
For his part, Guterres praised Kazakhstan’s role as a symbol of diplomacy and international cooperation.
“It all began with the historic decision to renounce nuclear weapons inherited from the Soviet Union decades ago—a truly exceptional example for the entire world,” he stressed. EFE