Turkmenistan's President holds talks with Toqaev
Kazakhstan's President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, recently met with his Turkmenistan counterpart, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in trade, energy, and transit-transport sectors. The meeting, as reported by our website, took place according to a statement from Akorda.
During his speech at the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in Turkmenistan on August 5, Tokayev outlined Kazakhstan's long-term goal: to develop a highly integrated and technologically advanced transport and logistics system. This strategic infrastructure aims to strengthen Kazakhstan’s position as a key transit center connecting Asia and Europe, currently handling about 85% of overland cargo between these continents.
The long-term goal for Kazakhstan is to create a unified network of railway, road, air, and logistics centers. Key aspects of Kazakhstan's long-term vision include:
- Prioritizing development of transport corridors and transit infrastructure along the North–South route and the Middle Corridor, which are vital for regional connectivity and trade facilitation.
- Investing heavily in digitalization and technological advancement, exemplified by the establishment of the AlemAI Artificial Intelligence Center in Astana and the launch of a supercomputer, to support modern infrastructure and logistics management.
- Enhancing regional interconnectivity and cooperation through strategic partnerships and inviting international scientific collaboration to foster innovation and sustainable development.
- Transforming Kazakhstan’s historically landlocked geographic challenges into opportunities by using political will, strategic investment, and international partnerships to turn connectivity into a growth driver rather than a barrier.
- Collaborating regionally, as seen through initiatives like Kazakhstan hosting the UN Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan, reinforcing its role in sustainable development and regional cooperation.
- Expanding logistics capacity with projects such as the planned logistics hub in Aktobe, linked to the Middle Corridor, offering efficient alternative trade routes between East and West, reducing reliance on politically sensitive areas.
The presidents reaffirmed their commitment to the course of comprehensive development of the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Tokayev considered the conference an important platform for exchanging views and developing practical solutions to current issues facing Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs).
- The discussion between Tokayev and Berdimuhamedov about bolstering cooperation in trade, energy, and transit-transport sectors may also involve the topic of migration, considering the importance Kazakhstan places on regional interconnectivity and cooperation for sustainable development.
- In order to address the challenges faced by Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) like Kazakhstan, policy-and-legislation regarding war-and-conflicts and their impact on migration could be a crucial aspect to consider, as acknowledged by Tokayev during his speech.
- General-news outlets might cover the recent meeting of the two presidents, as well as updates on Kazakhstan's progress in establishing a highly integrated and technologically advanced transport and logistics system, considering its strategic importance in connecting Asia and Europe and fostering regional cooperation.
