Toqayev Calls for Stronger Security and Economic Cooperation at SCO Summit

On September 1, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit opened in China. One of the first speakers was President of Kazakhstan Qasym-Jomart Toqayev, Orda.kz reports.

At the start of his remarks, Toqayev pointed out that the summit coincides with the upcoming 80th anniversary of the victory in World War II and stressed the inadmissibility of distorting historical truth.

The president described the SCO as an effective, influential, and relevant organization.

Kazakhstan fully supports the key goals of the SCO: an equal multipolar world order, security and stability, non-interference in the internal affairs of states and recognition of their right to sovereign development, fair international trade and mutually beneficial investment cooperation. The priority tasks of the organization serve the noble goal of ensuring the well-being, security and sustainable development of our peoples in the new technological era. Being firmly committed to the fundamental principles of the SCO statutory documents, Kazakhstan considers joint efforts in the fight against the ‘three evils’: terrorism, separatism and religious extremism, to be absolutely relevant,
 Toqayev said.

He voiced support for deeper security cooperation, proposing the establishment of four SCO centers to counter global threats.

We positively assess the initiatives of the Chinese President: on global development, global security, global civilization, global governance. We consider it extremely important to fully implement the ten-year strategy for the development of the SCO that we are adopting today,
Toqayev stated.

The Kazakh leader also addressed Afghanistan, urging SCO countries to continue providing humanitarian assistance.

He referred to Kazakhstan’s own initiatives in the country and the role of the UN regional center for sustainable development goals in Central Asia and Afghanistan, calling on partners to use its potential.

Turning to economic cooperation, Toqayev proposed setting up an SCO office for investment support at the Astana International Financial Center (AIFC).

Kazakhstan supports China’s initiative to establish the SCO Development Bank and is ready to take part in the implementation of this promising project. In addition, we propose to create an SCO office on the basis of the Astana International Financial Center to support promising investment projects and consolidate the activities of legal, consulting and financial companies,
he said.

He also emphasized the importance of expanding transport links, citing China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative, the “North-South” route, and a new proposal.

The new initiative to establish a ‘Trans-Altai Dialogue’ looks promising, aimed at effectively using the potential of the Eurasian Altai region, which is unique in terms of territory, population and economic power, uniting Kazakhstan, Russia, China and Mongolia,
Toqayev noted.

As in previous speeches, Toqayev touched on the topic of artificial intelligence, suggesting that the SCO could become a global leader in AI.

He proposed launching an SCO Expert Forum on Artificial Intelligence.

We are ready to hold the first such meeting in Astana on the sidelines of the authoritative Digital Bridge forum. In addition, in 2027, Kazakhstan intends to organize a high-level conference on the topic of ‘Artificial Intelligence in the Service of the SCO Economies,’
 he said.

The president also raised the issues of climate change and water security, suggesting the establishment of an SCO Water Research Center in Kazakhstan.

Concluding his remarks, Toqayev wished Kyrgyzstan and President Sadyr Japarov success in their upcoming chairing of the organization.

Original Author: Igor Ulitin