Nur-Sultan, February 5, 2021 – The First President of Kazakhstan – Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev sent a message to the participants of the Global Forum on Engagement and Empowerment on Sustainable Development.
The message was delivered by Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs Mukhtar Tileuberdi.
In his message, the First President of Kazakhstan noted that the rapid spread of COVID-19 around the world, its unprecedented tragic consequences and destructive impact on the global economy clearly showed how interdependent our countries are and how fragile our planet is.
In this regard, he stressed out that this global threat can be overcome only by combining the efforts of the entire international community in various spheres. Accordign to him, “one of the priority measures requiring such a joint approach is the equal and fair distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.”.
Nazarbayev recalled that the current decade is critical for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) until 2030, which are “a common global compass for all UN member states.” At the same time, achieving these goals the countries will need an additional 700 billion USD. To find the necessary resources, he proposed to consider once again Kazakhstan’s initiative to reduce the military expenditures of all countries by 1% and redirect them to financing development projects. “I have repeatedly expressed this idea since 1992 from the UN rostrum, and this is especially relevant today,” he said.
The First President of Kazakhstan also noted that the theme of the event in 2021 “Peace, Prosperity and Partnership for Security” fully coincides with the strategic vision of Kazakhstan. Through an active, peaceful, and responsible foreign policy, Kazakhstan contributes to international security and stability through leadership in the global anti-nuclear movement, conflict resolution and development assistance in our region and beyond. On the initiative of Nazarbayev, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions were launched.
Referring to Kazakhstan’s progress in the field of sustainable development, Nazarbayev noted that the nation has achieved significant success in most indicators of socio-economic development and is consistently moving towards its goal of joining the ranks of the 30 most developed countries of the world by 2050. He spoke about further plans to improve the welfare and quality of life of the population, including by increasing investments in health care and education up to 10% of GDP in the next five years and diversifying the economy.
Along with Nazarbayev, President of Colombia Ivan Duque Marquez, UN First Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and 12th President of the World Bank Jim Yong Kim participated as keynote speakers this year.
For reference: The Global Forums on Engagement and Empowerment on Sustainable Development have been held since 2018 at the initiative of the 8th UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year the event is held in a hybrid mode.
The co-chairs of the forum, former President of Austria Heinz Fischer and President of Yonsei University So Song Hwan, noted Nazarbayev’s important contribution to the promotion of global peace and partnership. The First President of Kazakhstan was previously awarded the title of Honorary Doctor of this prestigious university, on the premises of which the forum is held.
