Trade Ministry Discusses Trump's Proposed Tariffs
Kazakhstan and the United Nations Strengthen Partnership for Sustainable Development
In a significant development, Kazakhstan and the United Nations have taken a major step forward in their partnership for sustainable development. On August 3, 2025, UN Secretary-General António Guterres met with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Almaty to discuss and agree on several key points.
During the meeting, they witnessed the signing of the Host Country Agreement establishing the UN Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty. This centre is the first of its kind in Central Asia and represents a significant milestone for the region’s sustainable development efforts.
President Tokayev expressed gratitude for Guterres' visit, despite his busy schedule ahead of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. He highlighted the visit's importance as a demonstration of the UN's commitment to sustainable development.
Both leaders discussed UN reforms and Kazakhstan’s full support for the UN Secretary-General’s priorities and reform efforts. Tokayev reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s firm commitment to multilateralism, diplomacy, and cooperation as foundational principles guiding the UN’s mission.
The Secretary-General commended Kazakhstan for its pivotal role in promoting development, stability, and prosperity across Central Asia, affirming the country’s contribution to strengthening international cooperation and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.
In addition, Guterres praised Kazakhstan for becoming the centre of a global trade system, world logistics, transport, and telecommunications. He also noted Kazakhstan's symbolic role in peace and disarmament, as it gave up nuclear weapons and became a symbol of peace.
President Tokayev called on governments, civil society, and the private sector to unite and work together to achieve common progress in Central Asia. He announced the Regional Environmental Summit, which will take place in Astana in April 2026 in partnership with UN agencies.
The President emphasized that the Centre will serve as a catalyst for coordinated actions to strengthen the sustainability and dynamism of the economies in the region. He also stated that Central Asia is exhibiting unprecedented unity and a firm commitment to the principles of good neighborliness and common progress.
Guterres, in turn, praised Kazakhstan's contribution to strengthening international cooperation and promoting sustainable development goals. He emphasized that the opening of the Center in Almaty marks the beginning of a new chapter for the region on the path to achieving sustainable development goals.
In his closing remarks, Guterres emphasized that Kazakhstan was and remains the voice of reason in a world where there is less and less room for reason. The UN Regional Center in Almaty, being the first UN Sustainable Development Goals Center in Central Asia, is a testament to this fact.
This meeting and the establishment of the UN Regional SDG Center in Almaty reflect mutual commitment to UN reforms and sustainable development cooperation in Central Asia and Afghanistan.
- In the context of enhancing the sustainability development efforts in Central Asia, the discussion between President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and UN Secretary-General António Guterres led to an agreement on establishing the UN Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Almaty, which falls under the realm of policy-and-legislation.
- The cooperation between Kazakhstan and the United Nations, as evidenced by the establishment of the UN Regional Centre for the SDGs in Almaty, demonstrates a strong political commitment to sustainable development and general-news headlines, reflecting the strategic significance of the partnership in global politics.
