Russian President Vladimir Putin has endorsed the establishment of a United Nations regional centre for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Kazakhstan, according to a new comprehensive strategic partnership agreement signed with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the Kremlin.
The agreement, signed on Wednesday outlines expanded cooperation between the two countries. Article 10 of the document, published on the Kremlin’s website, said both sides welcomed the creation of the UN Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Kazakhstan, viewing it as a promising platform for advancing long-term, mutually beneficial regional development projects.
Tokayev announced earlier this year that the SDG centre had opened in Almaty with the support of the UN Secretary-General and partner countries.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres travelled to Kazakhstan, where he signed an agreement with Kazakh officials finalising the centre’s establishment. The United Nations confirmed the centre’s opening shortly afterwards.
During the ceremony, Tokayev said Kazakhstan remained committed to supporting the people of Afghanistan through humanitarian assistance, educational initiatives, trade development and food-security programmes.
Guterres said at the centre’s launch that Afghanistan formed an integral part of the future of Central Asia.
