Latest news with #Kassym-JomartTokayev
Cision Canada
a day ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
UN Global Compact Launches Central Asia Network to Drive SDG Progress
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, June 19, 2025 /CNW/ -- The UN Global Compact announced the official launch of its new Country Network for Central Asia yesterday in Kazakhstan, a multi-country office that will serve Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. This landmark initiative will connect more than 140 participant companies in the region with the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative, equipping them with the tools, resources and framework needed to advance sustainable business practices and align with the Sustainable Development Goals. "Central Asia sits at a strategic crossroads between Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and is entering a period of rapid economic and political transformation," said Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact. "By launching a Country Network here, we are anchoring responsible investment and sustainability into this dynamic corridor, and harnessing the region's untapped private-sector potential to drive green growth, improve transparency and foster social cohesion." Until now, efforts in sustainability, corporate governance and SDG implementation have largely operated in silos across the five countries. The Central Asia Network will establish a cross-border platform that advances the modernization agenda of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazahstan, by accelerating the green-economy transition, enhancing business transparency, and promoting accountable foreign investment — ensuring private-sector initiatives deliver tangible impact. With over 60 percent of the population under the age of 30, the Network will also serve as a vital bridge between global standards and the aspirations of local entrepreneurs, women-led enterprises and next-generation leaders. "At this pivotal moment, businesses in Central Asia must seize the first-mover advantage to set their own sustainability agenda," said Dinara Seijaparova, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Central Asia Network. "The UN Global Compact will convene government, business and civil society across Central Asia to build trust, foster cross-border partnerships and unlock billions in investment for the SDGs — ensuring that economic growth goes hand-in-hand with social inclusion and environmental resilience." The launch of the Central Asia Country Network reflects the UN Global Compact's commitment to regional empowerment and localized implementation of global agendas, in line with ongoing UN reform priorities. It follows the establishment of two new Country Networks in 2024 and brings the total number of Country Networks worldwide to 64. Notes to Editors The ambition of the UN Global Compact is to accelerate and scale the global collective impact of business by upholding the Ten Principles and delivering the SDGs through accountable companies and ecosystems that enable change. With more than 20,000 participating companies, 5 Regional Hubs, 64 Country Networks covering 85 countries and 9 Country Managers establishing Networks in 16 other countries, the UN Global Compact is the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative — one Global Compact uniting business for a better world. For more information, follow @globalcompact on social media and visit our website at
IOL News
2 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Full text of keynote speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the second China-Central Asia Summit
City view of Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. Image: VCG Championing the China-Central Asia Spirit For High-Quality Cooperation in the Region Keynote Speech by H.E. Xi Jinping President of the People's Republic of China At the Second China-Central Asia Summit Astana, June 17, 2025 Your Excellency President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Distinguished Colleagues, Friends, I am delighted to join you at the second China-Central Asia Summit in the beautiful city of Astana. I'd like to thank President Tokayev and the government of Kazakhstan for the gracious hospitality and thoughtful arrangement. During our meeting in Xi'an two years ago, we jointly outlined the Xi'an Vision for China-Central Asia cooperation. The six pomegranate trees we planted together are in full bloom today, auguring the vitality of the cooperation among the six nations. Two years on, China and Central Asian countries have further deepened and substantiated Belt and Road cooperation. Our trade has grown by 35 percent, and we have made important progress in industrial investment, green mining, technological innovation, and other fields of cooperation. The package of projects with Chinese financial support are well underway. While more and more Chinese new energy vehicles and photovoltaic products are entering Central Asian markets, Central Asian agricultural products, including honey, fruits, wheat and poultry, are diversifying the dinner tables of Chinese families. Two years on, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project has been officially launched. We are making steady progress in planning for the third railway link between China and Kazakhstan, in phase-II restoration of the China-Tajikistan highway, and in China-Turkmenistan energy cooperation. Freight train services are connecting more and more Chinese cities to Central Asia. The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route has been upgraded and expanded. Green industries, digital economy, artificial intelligence, aviation and space are becoming new drivers of our cooperation. Cross-border e-commerce, online education, and other new business models are benefiting more and more people in China and Central Asia. Two years on, China and Central Asian countries have made progress in establishing cultural centres in each other as well as in opening branches of Chinese universities and Luban Workshops. China has made mutual visa-free arrangements with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, facilitating more than 1.2 million travels between China and Kazakhstan alone in 2024. Tourism and culture years and art festivals of Central Asian countries are very popular in China. Chinese films and TV dramas, such as Min-Ning Town and To the Wonder, have become great hits in Central Asia. The China-Central Asia train services for cultural tourism have been successfully inaugurated. And today, we will witness the number of sister cities between China and Central Asia reach the milestone of 100 pairs. Two years on, we have launched 13 ministerial cooperation platforms under the China-Central Asia mechanism. The Secretariat is fully functioning, and the core framework of the mechanism is largely in place. I am pleased to see that our consensus at the first Summit has been implemented across the board – from the millennium-old Xi'an to Astana "the pearl of the steppe," from the coast of the Yellow Sea to the shores of the Caspian Sea, from the Tianshan Mountain Range to the Pamir Plateau. The path of our cooperation is steadily widening, and our friendship is blooming ever more brightly. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Distinguished Colleagues, Friends, Our cooperation is rooted in more than 2,000 years of friendly exchanges, cemented by solidarity and mutual trust cultivated through more than three decades of diplomatic ties, and taken forward via openness and win-win cooperation of the new era. Building on our collective efforts over the years, we have forged a China-Central Asia Spirit of "mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual benefit,and mutual assistance for the joint pursuit of modernization through high-quality development." — We practice mutual respect and treat each other as equals. All countries, big or small, are equal. We handle issues through consultation and make decisions by consensus. — We seek to deepen mutual trust and enhance mutual support. We firmly support each other in safeguarding independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national dignity. We do not do anything harmful to the core interests of any party. — We pursue mutual benefit and win-win cooperation and strive for common development. We view each other as priority partners, and share development opportunities together. We accommodate each other's interests, and work to build a win-win and symbiotic relationship. — We help each other in time of need and stand together through thick and thin. We support each other in choosing development paths suitable to our respective national conditions and in taking domestic matters into our own hands. We work together to address various risks and challenges, and uphold regional security and stability. This China-Central Asia Spirit is an important guideline for our endeavor to carry forward friendship and cooperation from generation to generation. We should always uphold it and let it shine forever. Distinguished Colleagues, Friends, Today, unprecedented changes are unfolding at a faster pace across the globe, thrusting the world into a new state of heightened turbulence and volatility. A strong belief in fairness and justice and an unyielding commitment to mutual benefit and win-win cooperation are the only way to maintain world peace and achieve common development. There is no winner in tariff wars or trade wars. Unilateralism, protectionism and hegemonism will surely backfire while hurting others. I always maintain that history should move forward, not backward; and the world should be united, not divided. Humanity must not regress to the law of the jungle. Instead, we should build a community with a shared future for mankind. Three years ago, we announced together that we would build a China-Central Asia community with a shared future, setting out the goal and direction of our six nations in building consensus, overcoming challenges and pursuing development. We should act on the China-Central Asia Spirit, enhance cooperation with renewed vigor and more practical measures, promote high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and forge ahead toward our goal of a community with a shared future for the region. First, we should stay committed to our fundamental goal of unity, and always trust and support each other. China consistently takes Central Asia as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy. With a firm belief in an amicable, secure and prosperous neighborhood as well as a strong dedication to amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, China interacts with Central Asian countries on the basis of equality and sincerity. We always wish our neighbors well. Today, we will sign together a treaty on eternal good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation to enshrine the principle of everlasting friendship in the form of law. This is a new landmark in the history of the relations between our six countries and a pioneering initiative in China's diplomatic engagement with its neighbors. It is a milestone for today and a foundation for tomorrow. Second, we should optimize our cooperation framework to make it more results-oriented, more efficient, and more deeply integrated. We have agreed to designate 2025 and 2026 as the Years of High-Quality Development of China-Central Asia Cooperation. We should focus our cooperation on smooth trade, industrial investment, connectivity, green mining, agricultural modernization and personnel exchanges, and roll out more projects on the ground. We should do our best to get early harvests as soon as possible. China is ready to share with Central Asian countries development experience and latest technological advances, promote connectivity in digital infrastructure, enhance cooperation on artificial intelligence, and foster new quality productive forces. In order to promote relevant cooperation, China has decided to establish three cooperation centers, i.e. on poverty reduction, on education exchange, and on desertification prevention and control, as well as a cooperation platform on smooth trade under the China-Central Asia cooperation framework. China will provide a grant of 1.5 billion yuan to Central Asian countries this year to be used in livelihood and development projects high on their agenda. China will also provide 3,000 training opportunities to Central Asian countries in the next two years. Third, we should develop a security framework for peace, tranquility and solidarity. We should step up regional security governance, deepen law enforcement and security cooperation, jointly prevent and thwart extreme ideologies, and resolutely fight terrorism, separatism and extremism, so as to maintain peace and stability in our region. China supports Central Asian countries in modernizing their national defense, law enforcement and security capacities. We will do our best to help Central Asian countries combat terrorism and transnational organized crime and safeguard cybersecurity and biosecurity. We will launch more Safe City projects, and conduct more joint exercises and joint training cooperation. Afghanistan is our close neighbor. We should strengthen coordination to help the country boost its development capacity and achieve peace, stability, reconstruction and development at an early date. Fourth, we should cement the bonds of shared vision, mutual understanding and mutual affection between our peoples. China will enhance cooperation between legislatures, political parties, women, youth, media and think tanks with Central Asian countries, conduct in-depth exchange of governance experience, and share experience in green development, poverty reduction and anti-corruption. China is ready to set up more cultural centers, university branches and Luban Workshops in Central Asia, and launch new majors in Central Asian languages in Chinese universities. We will continue to carry out effectively the "China-Central Asia technology and skills improvement scheme" to train more high-caliber talent for Central Asian countries. China supports deepening subnational cooperation with Central Asia. We will make good use of sister-city relations and people-to-people exchanges to nurture heart-to-heart connections at central and subnational levels, between official and non-governmental actors, and from adjacent to broader areas. I hope that the travel-facilitation measures we adopt today will be implemented as soon as possible to help our people visit each other more conveniently, efficiently and frequently like relatives, and in the course help them become ever closer to each other. Fifth, we should uphold a fair and equitable international order and an equal and orderly world structure. China supports Central Asian countries in playing a bigger role in international affairs. We stand ready to work with all parties to defend international fairness and justice, oppose hegemonism and power politics, and promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. In the strenuous times of war, Chinese and Central Asian peoples supported each other through adversity, and jointly made important contributions to the cause of justice of humanity. We should promote the correct view of history, defend the fruits of the victory of World War II, uphold the U.N.-centered international system, and provide more stability and certainty for world peace and development. Distinguished Colleagues, Friends, China is building a great modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through Chinese modernization. No matter how the international situation changes, China will remain unwavering in opening up to the outside world, and embrace higher-quality cooperation with Central Asian countries to deepen the integration of interests and achieve common development. Distinguished Colleagues, Friends, Ancient Chinese philosophy advocates "mutual care and mutual benefit." Similarly, a Central Asian proverb compares harmony and unity to happiness and wealth. China is ready to work with all parties to carry forward the China-Central Asia Spirit, pursue the goal of a community with a shared future, and strive for new progress in China-Central Asia cooperation. Thank you.
Euronews
4 days ago
- Business
- Euronews
Rosatom and CNNC to spearhead Kazakhstan's nuclear return
Kazakhstan has chosen Russia's state nuclear firm Rosatom and China's National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) to lead separate consortiums to build its first nuclear power plants. This marks the country's return to nuclear energy, as Kazakhstan has had no nuclear power facilities of its own since 1999 when its Soviet-era reactor was shut down. In a national referendum last October, nearly 70% of Kazakh voters approved constructing nuclear power facilities, a move strongly backed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Kazakhstan, one of the world's top uranium producers, currently relies mostly on coal-fired plants for power, alongside hydropower and a growing renewables sector. The nuclear project is seen as key to reducing heavy coal dependence and meeting future energy demand in an environmentally sustainable way. The nuclear project is seen as key to reducing heavy coal dependence and meeting future energy demand in an environmentally sustainable way. It will feature two Russian VVER-1200 Generation 3+ reactors. Rosatom's CEO Alexei Likhachev welcomed the decision, saying the plant will use "the most advanced and efficient design in the world." This flagship project of Kazakhstan's first commercial nuclear power station is expected to significantly improve domestic power supply and create thousands of jobs during construction and operation. It also restores nuclear generation in Kazakhstan after a 26-year pause since the BN-350 reactor's closure. Kazakhstan is adopting an "international consortium" approach, inviting multiple foreign partners to participate in its nuclear program in order to balance strategic relationships. While Rosatom will lead the first plant's consortium, officials say China's CNNC is slated to head a second nuclear plant project under a separate agreement. "China definitely has all the necessary technologies and a full industrial base, so our next priority is cooperation with China," said Almasadam Satqaliev, chairman of Kazakhstan's atomic agency. The second plant's details including its site, reactor design and timeline have yet to be clarified, but the inclusion of CNNC underscores Kazakhstan's effort to engage both of its powerful neighbours in its energy ambitions. Kazakhstan's push for nuclear energy comes amid rising electricity demand and frequent power shortages in parts of the country. The government argues that atomic power will strengthen energy security and help cut carbon emissions, leveraging Kazakhstan's abundant uranium resources for domestic benefit. "To not remain on the sidelines of global progress, we must use our competitive advantages," President Tokayev said ahead of the nuclear referendum, pointing to the country's uranium as a logical asset for power generation. At the same time, the nuclear projects highlight Kazakhstan's careful geopolitical balancing act. The decision to involve both Moscow and Beijing aligns with Astana's broader strategy of maintaining strong ties with its former Soviet patron and its giant eastern neighbour. By sharing its nuclear program between Rosatom and CNNC, Kazakhstan can reassure both Moscow and Beijing of partnership, while also diversifying its technological and financial support.
Korea Herald
5 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
CGTN: Second China-Central Asia Summit eyes a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future
BEIJING, June 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the announcement by China's Foreign Ministry that President Xi Jinping will attend the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan next week, CGTN published an article that explores the practical cooperation between China and the five Central Asian countries. The article also examines how the upcoming summit will contribute to building a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future. Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana from June 16 to 18 at the invitation of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Friday. The upcoming summit would present a new opportunity for China and the five Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – to deepen strategic trust, enhance practical cooperation and jointly contribute stability and positive momentum to a world fraught with uncertainty, Cui Zheng, director of the Research Center for Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asian Countries at Liaoning University, told CGTN. "It will further strengthen the China-Central Asia mechanism, drive more new outcomes in China-Central Asia cooperation and open a new chapter in the building of a China-Central Asia community with a shared future," Cui said. On January 25, 2022, China and the five Central Asian countries jointly announced building a China-Central Asia community with a shared future. During the first China-Central Asia Summit in 2023, Xi outlined a clear road map for building a closer community, anchored in four key principles: mutual assistance, common development, universal security and everlasting friendship. Since then, the momentum generated by the first high-level gathering has translated into tangible progress. All six nations are now looking forward to consolidating these achievements and exploring new pathways for deeper regional cooperation. From strategic consensus to practical cooperation The inaugural China-Central Asia Summit in May 2023 was a landmark event, marking the institutionalization of a multilateral mechanism that prioritizes peace, development and mutual respect. One of the summit's most significant outcomes was the signing of the Xi'an Declaration, where the six countries pledged to build a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future. Since then, concrete cooperation projects have been launched in various fields, turning the outcomes of the Xi'an Summit into reality. For example, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project, long under discussion, has officially entered the construction preparation phase. When completed, it will significantly reduce logistics costs and time, boosting trade efficiency across the region. The railway is expected to connect the Asia-Pacific region with Europe, offering a new solution for trans-Eurasian transportation. The railway serves as a vivid example of China-Central Asia practical cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which continues to yield high-quality and tangible outcomes – from connectivity and capacity cooperation to clean energy and infrastructure. In Kazakhstan, the China-Kazakhstan crude oil and natural gas pipelines and the Shymkent Oil Refinery are operating steadily. In Uzbekistan, the 1,500 MW gas-fired power plant project in the Syrdarya region has been commissioned, and the Olympic City project is progressing smoothly. In Tajikistan, cooperative projects including government buildings, parliament offices and key sections of Phase II of the China-Tajikistan highway are being actively implemented. According to China National Petroleum Corporation, as of March 2025, the cumulative natural gas trade volume between Turkmenistan and China, flowing through the China-Central Asia Gas Pipeline, reached 430 billion cubic meters – equivalent to China's entire annual gas consumption. According to China's Ministry of Commerce, trade between China and the five Central Asian countries exceeded $94.8 billion in 2024, marking a $5.4 billion increase from 2023. Chinese investment in Central Asia has continued to expand, especially in green energy and agricultural processing sectors. Noting that Central Asia is both the "birthplace" and a key demonstration area for the BRI, Professor Cui emphasized that the new summit will further promote high-quality regional cooperation, with rapid advancements in trade and investment. The upcoming summit will not only be a window to showcase the achievements of multilateral cooperation but also provide a new model for South-South cooperation, he added.
Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Russia to build Kazakhstan's first nuclear power plant
ALMATY: Russian nuclear energy giant Rosatom will lead the construction of the first atomic power plant in Kazakhstan, the world's top uranium producer, the Central Asian country's authorities said on Saturday. 'Rosatom has been named as the leader of the international consortium for the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan,' the former Soviet republic's nuclear power agency said in a statement. Kazakhstan, a vast resource-rich country in Central Asia, is currently the world's top uranium producer, providing 43 percent of supplies. It does not produce enough electricity to meet domestic consumption needs. The new power plant, whose construction was approved in a referendum in late 2024, will be built near the half-abandoned village of Ulken near Balkhash Lake. The lake, located in the southeast, is the country's second largest. China's National Nuclear Corporation, France's EDF and South Korea's Hydro and Nuclear Power had all bid to build the plant. In their announcement on Saturday, the Kazakh authorities said that the three companies would be included in the consortium led by Rosatom but did not provide any details. Observers say the idea of the consortium is a way for authorities to maintain good relations with all the countries involved but is unlikely to come to fruition and Rosatom will end up building the plant by itself. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has sought to keep good relations both with former colonial power Russia and with China, which borders the country to the east and finances major infrastructure projects in the region. Rosatom has proposed financing the project and work will now begin to thresh out the details, the statement said. The announcement comes a few days before Chinese leader Xi Jinping is due to visit Kazakhstan for a 'China-Central Asia' summit. Kazakhstan had nuclear power plants when it was part of the Soviet Union, in addition to hosting Soviet nuclear weapons. It was also the site for Soviet nuclear testing.
