ISLAMABAD: Monitoring Desk – United Nations Secretary-General H.E. Mr. António Guterres arrived to Kazakhstan for a working visit on 03 August, as part of his Central Asian tour. During his visit to Almaty, the Secretary-General held a meeting with the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and participated in a number of events with representatives of the Government and UN staff.
A key highlight of the visit was the signing of a Host Country Agreement between the United Nations and the Government of Kazakhstan on the establishment of the UN Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Central Asia and Afghanistan.
The Agreement was signed by H.E. Mr. Murat Nurtleu, Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Mr. Li Junhua, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.
The Centre will serve as a vital platform for advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the regional level.
During the bilateral meeting between the UN Secretary-General and the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, discussions focused on cooperation between the United Nations and Kazakhstan, including the establishment of the UN Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty, based on a resolution of the UN General Assembly.
Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, H.E. Mr. Murat Nurtleu, and UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Mr. Li Junhua, signed the Host Country Agreement between the UN and the Government of Kazakhstan on the establishment of the UN Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Central Asia and Afghanistan.
The Secretary-General noted:
“This Centre marks the beginning of a new chapter both for the region and for our collective pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals. It symbolizes a new era of cooperation in Central Asia, built on shared priorities and joint solutions. The Centre will enable strong ties among regional leaders to evolve into deep economic integration. I highly value President K.Tokayev’s vision and leadership in shaping a new Central Asia. Without doubt, this region will become an increasingly important force in the global order“.
