According to the Secretary-General, the centre symbolises a new era of cooperation in Central Asia based on common priorities and solutions, and has significant potential to promote deeper economic integration in the region.

Traditions and innovations

Thanking the President and all the people of Kazakhstan, the Secretary-General called Almaty a “worthy home” for the centre, noting the city’s historical significance and the country’s role as a “bridge between East and West, tradition and innovation.”

The Centre was established by the UN General Assembly . The corresponding agreement was signed on Sunday by Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu and UN Deputy Head of Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua. The Centre’s mandate is expected to be finalised and its leadership appointed in the near future.

“It will soon become a hub for regional cooperation, a laboratory of ideas and a launching pad for action,” Guterres said.

Challenges in Central Asia

The Secretary-General noted that the Centre will bring together key actors – from governments and UN country teams to the private sector, academia and civil society – to jointly respond to the region’s challenges, including climate change, water scarcity , youth unemployment, gender inequality and the digital divide.

“In Central Asia, climate change is already depleting water resources, melting glaciers and increasing the frequency of natural disasters. The drying up of the Aral Sea is a stark reminder of the region’s environmental vulnerability. Trade tensions and global uncertainty only exacerbate these risks. The region’s continental location creates additional barriers – to trade, transport connectivity, access to finance and global markets,” Guterres said.

Ahead of the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Countries, which will be held in Turkmenistan next week, he stressed the importance of the centre in implementing the relevant agenda. Its work will help ensure that states’ aspirations are not limited by geography, but rather are supported by cooperation and regional solutions.

Support for Afghanistan

The Secretary-General paid special attention to Afghanistan in his speech.

“Afghanistan’s people continue to face enormous challenges, from deep poverty and mass displacement to earthquakes, climate shocks and a fragile humanitarian situation,” he said.

The Centre, according to the Secretary-General, will work with partners in the region and the international community to support Afghanistan’s path to sustainable development – “with full respect for human rights, including the rights of women and girls , with a focus on economic self-reliance, peace and dignity.”

In conclusion of his speech, the Secretary General expressed confidence that the Centre will become a driving force for change in the region.

“This Centre carries with it the promise of partnership and progress. The United Nations stands ready to support you in this mission,” he said.

https://news.un.org/ru/story/2025/08/1466120

Machine Translated by Google

The UN Regional Centre is conceived as a permanent platform in Almaty for coordinating efforts to achieve the SDGs, covering all Central Asian states and Afghanistan. This initiative was initially put forward by Kazakhstan and unanimously supported at the UN General Assembly – the resolution on the establishment of the centre in Almaty was co-sponsored by 152 UN member states, which indicates the high significance of the idea and broad international consensus.

New chapter of cooperation for the region and the UN

The opening of the regional centre in Almaty is widely seen as the beginning of a new chapter in cooperation in Central Asia. According to António Guterres, the emergence of such a centre “symbolises a new era of cooperation in Central Asia, based on shared priorities and joint solutions” . This is the first ever UN centre for sustainable development in Central Asia, and its significance goes beyond the borders of one state. It is intended to become a key platform for coordinating international and regional efforts, sharing best practices, providing technical assistance and implementing joint projects for the benefit of the entire region. Moreover, the centre’s work will be carried out in collaboration not only with governments, but also with the entire spectrum of stakeholders – UN agencies, the private sector and civil society. Such a comprehensive approach is intended to ensure specific and measurable results in promoting the SDGs.

Antonio Guterres himself called the opening of the center “a new era of cooperation” , emphasizing that the center has great potential to demonstrate how close ties between the leaders of the region can lead to deeper economic integration. In his speech, the Secretary-General highly praised the strategic vision of President Tokayev, “shaping a new image of Central Asia, which will play an increasingly significant role in the world order” . In other words, the creation of the center in Almaty is a sign that Central Asia is becoming a more united and important player on the global stage. The Kazakh leader also noted that this event is a powerful signal to the entire world community about the increased importance of the Central Asian region. It is no coincidence that the decision to establish the center was made by consensus of all UN states – the international community is ready to facilitate the progress of Central Asia and Afghanistan on the path to stability and prosperity.

Support for UN reform and commitment to multilateralism

The visit of the UN Secretary-General became an important opportunity to emphasize Kazakhstan’s commitment to the principles of multilateral diplomacy and support for UN reforms. At a meeting with Antonio Guterres in Almaty, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, on behalf of Kazakhstan, expressed full support for the Secretary-General’s initiatives to transform the United Nations. “Kazakhstan fully supports your efforts to reform the UN and shares your priorities. In this regard, I reaffirm Kazakhstan’s unwavering commitment to the fundamental principles of multilateralism, diplomacy and cooperation that underlie the activities of the UN,” Tokayev said during the talks. In particular, this concerns the so-called UN80 initiative, put forward by Antonio Guterres on the eve of the 80th anniversary session of the General Assembly. This program is aimed at rethinking UN mandates and increasing the effectiveness of the organization in modern realities, and Kazakhstan immediately expressed support for this initiative.

By supporting reforms, Kazakhstan demonstrates itself as a responsible member of the international community and a consistent supporter of the UN Charter. President Tokayev particularly emphasized that the United Nations remains for Kazakhstan “an irreplaceable and essential pillar of the international order .” Since joining the UN 33 years ago, the republic has shown itself to be an active, peace-loving and proactive member of the world community. And the opening of the UN regional hub in Almaty is a logical continuation of this line. Moreover, as noted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the new center will contribute to the internal reforms of the UN itself, helping to increase the effectiveness of its work at the regional level. Through such decentralization and adaptation of global initiatives to the needs of the region, the idea of inclusive multilateral cooperation is being realized – the very thing that the current UN reforms are striving for.

A Bridge Between Nations: Kazakhstan’s Peacekeeping Mission

For Kazakhstan, the visit of the UN Secretary General became another opportunity to consolidate its image as a “bridge between peoples” and an honest broker on the world stage. During the talks, Antonio Guterres gave an extremely high assessment of the country’s role, calling Kazakhstan “a symbol of peace, a symbol of dialogue, a bridge between peoples, an honest broker in many situations .” According to the Secretary General, the republic earned such a reputation primarily due to its historic choice in the first years of independence – the decision to voluntarily renounce the nuclear weapons inherited from the USSR. This step turned Kazakhstan into a “global symbol of peace and disarmament ,” which is especially relevant today, when the world again needs examples of abandoning the arms race. Guterres emphasized that Kazakhstan’s experience proves to the whole world that even in the era of talk about a “clash of civilizations,” it is possible to achieve a different result. “Kazakhstan, by its own example – and this is convincingly demonstrated by your initiatives – proves that dialogue and cooperation between representatives of different religions and cultures are possible. “You have always been the centre of attention in bringing the message of unity and human rapprochement to the world,” the Secretary-General said.

Indeed, over three decades of independence, Kazakhstan has repeatedly initiated peacekeeping and dialogue platforms. It is enough to recall how the negotiations on the Syrian settlement were held in Astana, or how the congress of leaders of world and traditional religions is regularly convened on Kazakh soil. The country’s foreign policy is based on the principles of good neighborliness and the search for compromises, which is especially valuable in the current turbulent situation. Today, when Central Asia demonstrates unprecedented unity and commitment to the principles of good neighborliness, Kazakhstan seeks to unleash the region’s potential as an active mediator in resolving key international issues. Peacekeeping diplomacy has become the country’s calling card, and the visit of the head of the UN actually confirmed its success in this field. It is not for nothing that Antonio Guterres publicly described Kazakhstan as “the voice of reason in the world” and expressed gratitude for the republic’s contribution to strengthening global security and sustainable development.

Why Almaty: Symbolism and Potential of the City

The choice of Almaty as the headquarters of the new regional center is not accidental. This largest metropolis of Kazakhstan has a unique combination of symbolic and logistical potential for international initiatives. Firstly, Almaty is the historical southern capital of the country, known for its openness to the world and cultural diversity. It is here that the representative offices of leading international organizations have been located for many years. Today, 18 UN agencies work in the new House of International Organizations in Almaty, and the regional SDG center will be located on an already prepared site, equipped for the needs of such structures. In other words, the infrastructure and human resources for the center were prepared in advance, which increases the chances of its effective operation.

Secondly, Almaty is advantageously located geographically – at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, close to the borders of several Central Asian states at once. It is no coincidence that the UN Secretary General noted that thanks to the development of transport corridors, railways and digital networks, Kazakhstan has effectively ceased to be a landlocked country and has become the center of the world trade, logistics and communications system. “Your country is truly a bridge – a bridge between East and West, North and South,” Guterres emphasized.

In addition, Almaty has a special symbolic role. The city has long been a platform for international meetings and initiatives: from economic forums to cultural festivals. The creation of a regional UN hub for SDGs here underlines Kazakhstan’s desire to develop the southern capital as a global city open to dialogue between different peoples. Almaty shows that Central Asia is not a periphery, but a link between different parts of the world.

Responding to Common Challenges: Climate, Water, Afghanistan, the Digital Divide

The new center is designed not only to coordinate efforts, but also to provide practical answers to the acute challenges facing Central Asia. These include climate change and environmental issues, especially those related to water resources. President Tokayev recalled the tragic experience of the region: the shallowing Aral Sea and the shrinking Caspian Sea have become symbols of environmental disasters in Central Asia. No country can solve such problems alone. To effectively overcome environmental crises, it is vital to strengthen regional cooperation and more actively involve the UN potential. It is no coincidence that it was announced that in April 2026, Kazakhstan, in partnership with relevant UN structures, will hold a regional environmental summit in Astana – this is a direct continuation of the tasks for which the SDG center is being created.

Another area of the center’s work is promoting sustainable development in Afghanistan. Instability and humanitarian problems in Afghanistan directly affect the security and prosperity of all of Central Asia. Kazakhstan, as Tokayev emphasized, remains committed to supporting the brotherly Afghan people – through humanitarian aid, educational programs, increasing trade and ensuring food security. “We are convinced that peace and development in Afghanistan must go hand in hand ,” the President said, noting the inextricable link between respect for human dignity, compliance with international law and sustainable peace. The UN Regional Center in Almaty will allow the Central Asian states and international partners to unite their efforts to develop coordinated approaches to the Afghan problem – from assistance in economic recovery to integrating the country into regional development projects.

No less urgent for our region is the task of overcoming the “digital divide” – the lag in the development of modern technologies and access to them. The countries of Central Asia realize that without digital transformation it is impossible to achieve many sustainable development goals. Therefore, Kazakhstan puts forward initiatives to develop artificial intelligence, digitalize public services and create modern transport corridors, striving to turn the country into a real Eurasian digital and logistics hub. The new UN center can become a platform for exchanging best practices in this area, attracting investment and expertise to overcome the technological inequality between our countries. In addition, the center is planned to coordinate regional projects on water resource management, development of “green” energy and reduction of socio-economic imbalances. All these tasks are listed in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and now a mechanism for their joint solution is emerging in the region.

Kazakhstan as a new “middle power”

The establishment of the UN regional centre and the visit of the Secretary-General underlined the increased role of Kazakhstan in the global system of relations. The international community has actually recognised Kazakhstan’s leadership in the Central Asian region, entrusting it with the honour of hosting the most important centre for coordinating development efforts. As the MFA notes, the increasing role of “middle powers” in global governance is one of the trends of our time, and Kazakhstan’s contribution to sustainable development and stability is a perfect illustration of this. Our country is strengthening its status as a new “middle power”, a medium-sized but influential state that builds bridges between global centres of power and acts as a catalyst for international cooperation. The support expressed by 152 countries in the UN clearly demonstrates the level of trust in Kazakhstan’s initiatives at the global level.

The visit of António Guterres and the launch of the regional centre in Almaty marked a new phase in Kazakhstan’s foreign policy mission. As a “voice of reason” and an active mediator, the country is increasingly showing itself as a donor of ideas and platforms for addressing common problems of humanity. By giving up its nuclear arsenal and promoting intercultural dialogue, Kazakhstan has set an example of responsible behaviour for the world; now, through the promotion of the SDGs and support for UN reforms, it is confirming its status as a reliable partner and proactive “middle power”. In his closing remarks at the ceremony, President Tokayev expressed deep gratitude to Secretary-General Guterres for his leadership in difficult times and assured that Kazakhstan will continue to fully support the UN’s efforts.

Региональный центр ООН в Алматы: дипломатический успех Казахстана

Machine Translated by Google