Tokayev expressed gratitude to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who chaired the summit, for India’s successful chairmanship of the SCO and congratulated Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on his country’s accession as a full member of the SCO. He added that the process of accepting Belarus as a member is nearing completion.
The President said the SCO is a successful multilateral association with significant international authority, accounting for a quarter of the global GDP and more than 15% of international trade.
Amid a radical transformation of the global order, an unprecedented increase in geopolitical tensions, intensification of trade and sanctions wars, and other challenges, Tokayev stressed the need to remain committed to building a more representative, democratic and multipolar world with the central and coordinating role of the United Nations.
Tokayev informed that Kazakhstan, which begins its chairmanship of the SCO this month, will present the initiative On World Unity for a Just Peace and Harmony to strengthen confidence-building measures and maintain stability and security.
Highlighting the fight against the three forces of evil – transnational organized crime, drug trafficking and cybercrime – Tokayev emphasized the necessity to upgrade the Program of Cooperation on Combating Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism for 2025-2027. He also proposed to adopt the SCO Anti-Drug Strategy for 2024-2029 and the Action Program for its implementation.“Particular attention should be paid to overcoming the crisis in Afghanistan,” he said. “It is important to continue providing assistance to the Afghan people under the auspices and coordination of the UN.”Tokayev also noted the need to support the initiative to establish the UN Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.
Tokayev suggested that the Astana International Financial Centre can be an effective platform for stimulating direct and portfolio investments in regional SCO projects, as it has absorbed the best experience of world financial institutions.
According to Tokayev, SCO’s economic agenda should prioritize creating favorable conditions for mutual trade growth, removing existing trade barriers and launching joint ventures.
He proposed to start creating a base of economic preferences for the SCO to increase its investment attractiveness.
Highlighting the prerequisites created by the Belt and Road Initiative and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route for unlocking the great potential of the North-South and East-West corridors, Tokayev offered to establish a partner network of large strategic ports and logistics centers.
The President said it is necessary to coordinate the SCO Energy Strategy by the next summit in Astana to ensure energy balance, energy transition, and decarbonization of the economies and industry.
Tokayev said Kazakhstan is ready to host the SCO Energy Forum to consider consolidated approaches to ensure energy security and a balanced development of member countries.
According to Tokayev, favorable conditions have been created in Kazakhstan for a comprehensive digital transformation.
“Kazakhstan offers its services as a digital hub in the SCO space. Therefore, I believe it is important to host the SCO Digital Forum in Astana in 2024,” he said.
“Unfortunately, we are seeing a significant increase in various natural disasters – floods, droughts, fires, water and soil pollution,” the President noted. In relation to this, Tokayev proposed to establish partnership relations between the SCO and the UN Environment Program, develop an agreement on cooperation on environmental protection, and adopt a program of cooperation for the development of specially protected natural areas and ecotourism.
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