Kazakh President
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed the UN Summit on Sustainable Development
Goals in New York. He stated that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDG) is a national priority for Kazakhstan. The Head of State and Hungarian
President Katalin Novak co-chaired the first session of the Leaders’ Dialogue.
President Tokayev noted that today the country is actively investing in a
sustainable future, 80 percent of the country’s state budget has been allocated
for those purposes. Universal access to free education and healthcare has been
ensured as well. Kazakhstan is also initiating the creation of a regional hub
in the country on SDG for Central Asia and Afghanistan.
“It is necessary to strengthen
the ‘One UN’ principle at the regional level to promote better synergy. Thus,
we are initiating the establishment of the Regional Hub on SDGs for Central
Asia and Afghanistan in Kazakhstan. It will ensure the effective coordination
of UN project activities in the region,” said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
According to President Tokayev,
in order to overcome global challenges and achieve a prosperous future for
everyone, it is necessary to work together, since it is only through the unity
of the global community that results can be achieved. In addition, the Head of
State proposed to the Summit participants to revitalize the international
financial architecture. It is the financial system that should promote equality
for all countries, the Kazakh President stressed. It is necessary to allocate
more funds to resolve issues in environment, education and health given that it
is the climate, food and energy crises that pose a serious threat to
sustainable development, President Tokayev emphasized.
“We must strengthen our international
cooperation on technical support, scientific research and risk assessment under
the UN’s leadership. The Sustainable Development Goals represent the path to a
better world for all. We must come together and redouble our commitments.
Kazakhstan will always remain a staunch advocate of a strong and effective UN
role in sustainable development,” said the Kazakh President.
