Kazakhstan serves as a link connecting Eastern and Western regions, according to Guterres' statement.
In the heart of Central Asia, the UN Regional Center has officially opened its doors in Almaty, Kazakhstan. This significant event, attended by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, symbolizes a new era of cooperation grounded in shared priorities and joint solutions to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Center, with its immense potential, is poised to deepen economic integration among Central Asian countries and serve as a hub for coordinated regional action, including support for Afghanistan. It highlights Kazakhstan’s role as a bridge linking East and West, and North and South, facilitating global trade, logistics, transport, and telecommunications.
As the third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) approaches, to be held in Turkmenistan, the Center is expected to become a key innovator in implementing the Action Program for LLDCs. Secretary-General Guterres expressed confidence that the Centre would advance the interests and development of landlocked states in Central Asia, strengthening ties and enabling more resilient economic frameworks regionally.
The establishment of the Center, endorsed by the UN General Assembly and supported by Kazakhstan’s leadership, showcases a collective regional commitment to overcoming traditional barriers faced by landlocked and developing countries through enhanced cooperation, infrastructure connectivity, and sustainable development initiatives. This is particularly critical since Kazakhstan—and by extension the region—is transforming from a traditional landlocked country into a transit hub with developed transport corridors and fiber-optic networks.
Kazakhstan, a country that builds bridges between peoples and serves as a peacemaker, has been praised by Guterres for its internal and foreign policy course. The Secretary-General's admiration for Kazakhstan's peaceful coexistence of different ethnicities and religions was evident in his speech.
Moreover, Kazakhstan's renunciation of nuclear weapons has earned it the symbol of peace and disarmament in today's world, where reason is often lacking. In the voice of wisdom and reconciliation, Kazakhstan continues to play a crucial role in international cooperation.
In conclusion, the UN Regional Centre in Almaty functions as a catalyst for regional integration, sustainable development, and support for landlocked developing countries, notably in the context of the forthcoming third UN Conference on LLDCs that will shape the next phase of international cooperation for these countries.
Sources: [1] [URL for source 1] [2] [URL for source 2] [3] [URL for source 3]
The UN Regional Center in Almaty, Kazakhstan, is expected to contribute significantly to policy-and-legislation and politics, as it is set to become a key innovator in implementing the Action Program for LLDCs. This regional hub, supported by Kazakhstan's leadership, will play a pivotal role in facilitating global trade, logistics, transport, and telecommunications, thereby influencing general-news narratives in Central Asia.
