President Tokayev’s Vision for Central Asian Security: Key Pillars Outlined
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan recently met with the Security Council Secretaries of Central Asian countries in Astana to discuss and outline the main pillars for strengthening security cooperation in the region. During the meeting, President Tokayev expressed gratitude to neighboring countries for their assistance during the recent massive floods in Kazakhstan.
The President emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in various areas, including trade and economic interaction. He highlighted that intraregional trade has seen significant growth in the past five years, exceeding $10 billion. President Tokayev stressed the need for a productive dialogue to ensure regional security and stability, especially in countering challenges such as international extremism, terrorism, drug trafficking, and arms trafficking.
One of the key initiatives discussed was the creation of the United Nations Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Kazakhstan. President Tokayev also mentioned the upcoming Sixth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia, scheduled to be held in Astana on Aug. 9. Kazakhstan has developed the Central Asia – 2040 strategy for the development of regional cooperation, which is expected to have a significant impact on the region.
President Tokayev called for coordinated efforts and mutual assistance among Central Asian countries to resist external powers seeking to incite conflict and divide the region. He expressed gratitude to the neighboring countries for their support during the floods in Kazakhstan, highlighting the importance of true friendship, good neighborliness, and mutual support in the region.
Overall, President Tokayev expressed confidence that the meeting will contribute to strengthening cooperation between Central Asian countries in security. The event was attended by Security Council Secretaries from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and a military attaché from Turkmenistan in Kazakhstan. The President praised the increased level of interaction among the leaders and officials in the Central Asian region, noting a positive shift towards sustainable development and mutual trust among the countries.
