United Nations Leader Antonio Guterres Heads to Kazakhstan for a Visit
António Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General, is set to visit Almaty, Kazakhstan on August 3, 2025. This marks his third visit to Kazakhstan in his role as Secretary-General. The visit is at the invitation of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and will involve meetings with the President and other senior government officials.
The main purpose of the visit is to sign an agreement that will establish the United Nations Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty. This centre, as outlined by a UN resolution in 2025, will serve as a hub for coordinating efforts on economic, social, and environmental development priorities in the region.
During his visit, Guterres is expected to emphasize the need for renewed multilateral cooperation in addressing regional and global challenges, including the climate crisis, digital transformation, and inclusive development. He will also meet with UN staff members during his visit.
In 2024, the UN delivered over $37 million in development support to Kazakhstan, partnering with national institutions, civil society, and international stakeholders. The areas of cooperation included inclusive economic growth, healthcare, education, human rights, environmental sustainability, and gender equality.
The agreement to be signed during the visit will be between Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu and UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua. The agreement will outline the operation and cooperation frameworks for the UN Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals in Central Asia.
It is important to note that the UN Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will not be involved in meetings with UN staff members during the visit. The UN Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), once established, will focus on advancing sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the region, supporting coordinated efforts for Central Asia and Afghanistan.
This visit continues Guterres's engagement in Central Asia and follows his previous participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Almaty in 2024. The visit by UN Secretary-General António Guterres to Almaty, Kazakhstan on Aug. 3 is reflective of Kazakhstan's growing role in promoting regional dialogue and sustainable policy frameworks across Central Asia and Afghanistan.
[1] United Nations. (2025). Resolution establishing the United Nations Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/centralasia/ [2] United Nations. (2025). Press release: UN Secretary-General António Guterres to visit Kazakhstan on Aug. 3. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/kazakhstan/press-releases/un-secretary-general-antonio-guterres-to-visit-kazakhstan-on-aug-3/ [3] United Nations. (2025). Fact sheet: United Nations Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/centralasia/factsheet/ [4] Shanghai Cooperation Organization. (2024). Joint Communiqué of the Heads of State Council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Retrieved from https://www.shanghaicooperation.org/documents/joint-communiqu%C3%A9-of-the-heads-of-state-council-of-the-shanghai-cooperation-organization/ [5] United Nations. (2024). Press release: UN Secretary-General António Guterres attends Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/kazakhstan/press-releases/un-secretary-general-antonio-guterres-attends-shanghai-cooperation-organization-summit-in-almaty-kazakhstan/
- The upcoming visit of UN Secretary-General António Guterres to Almaty, Kazakhstan on August 3, 2025, is expected to involve discussions on climate-change, one of the regional and global challenges he aims to address, as part of his emphasis on multilateral cooperation.
- The United Nations Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to be established in Almaty, will not only focus on environmental-science, but also on economic, social, and other development priorities in Central Asia and Afghanistan, as outlined by a UN resolution in 2025.
