Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has said that long-term peace and sustainable development in Afghanistan are essential for regional security, reaffirming his country’s commitment to supporting the Afghan people.
Tokayev made the remarks during a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who arrived in Kazakhstan on Sunday, 3 August. The two leaders participated in a signing ceremony to formalise the establishment of a UN Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Central Asia and Afghanistan, based in Almaty.
According to a statement from the Kazakh presidency, Tokayev said the opening of the centre highlights the region’s increasing strategic importance and marks a significant step in Kazakhstan’s ongoing cooperation with the United Nations.
He stressed Kazakhstan’s ongoing support for the Afghan people, which includes humanitarian aid, education initiatives, trade facilitation, and food security programmes. He also noted that trade between Kazakhstan and Afghanistan has been steadily rising.
“We believe that peace and development in Afghanistan must go hand in hand. Human dignity and international law are inseparable and must guide all efforts towards lasting stability,” he added.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the new regional centre, Guterres echoed Tokayev’s remarks, stating that Afghanistan is an integral part of Central Asia’s future. He emphasised the urgency of the country’s humanitarian and economic crisis and said the Afghan people “deserve a better future.”
He added that the new centre could play a critical role in supporting sustainable development in Afghanistan, provided it prioritises universal values and the fundamental principles of human rights.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on 4 March 2025 to establish the regional centre in Almaty. The centre is tasked with coordinating development efforts, providing technical assistance, and implementing projects related to poverty reduction, healthcare, education, climate resilience, economic development, and water resource management across Central Asia and Afghanistan.
