Kazakh Head of State partook in Valdai Discussion Club

The representative forum that brought together authoritative politicians, eminent experts and public figures from some 10 countries was devoted to the role of East in the global geopolitics.

In his speech, the Head of State pointed out that Kazakhstan is linked to East and West by historical and geographical bonds.

“Kazakhstan is at the crossroads of the Islamic, Confucius and Eastern Christian civilizations. The Great Silk Road, the Golden Horde, Eurasianship are the essential parts of the cultural code of Kazakhs”, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.

According to him, an “Asian Century” is a fact that is proved by the growth rates of population, GDP, trade, industrial and high-technology manufacturing.

“In 2018, 210 out of 500 world companies were from Asia. Asian companies are among world leaders in digital technology. The continent’s countries account for 50% of the global GDP growth, thus stimulating global trade and investment”, the Head of State said.

In his speech the positive trends were followed by some alarming factors of global and regional development. The Kazakh President believes that many points of conflict in the region, including in the Korean peninsula, the South China Sea, Kashmir, Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, the zone of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the situation concerning Iran have turned into a kind of slow ticking bomb.

The Kazakh President pointed out to an acute shortage of trust and dialogue between the main regional actors, the regeneration of the elements of “cold war”, confrontation, sanctions and distrust.

“It is necessary to search for effective formulae against the fragmentation of security in Asia. We are witnessing a patchwork quilt made of different bilateral alliances, regional and sub-regional institutes. In Asia, in China they say: “same bed but different dreams”, the Head of State said.

We went on to say that Kazakhstan, as chair of CICA in 2020-22, plans to activate contacts with other multilateral institutes.

According to the Kazakh President, climate change is topical.

“Increasing global temperature accelerates melting of glaciers, desertification and soil erosion. In that regard, the control over freshwater sources could become a focus of confrontation in Asia. It is well known that that topic is among potential destabilizing factors in Central Asia”, the President said.

In that context, the Kazakh Head of State underscored that Kazakhstan focuses on step-by-step joint work with other countries and international organizations in a bid to divert conflicting situations.

In his speech, the Kazakh President noted that Kazakhstan intends to work constructively within the EAEU.

“Despite the difficulties related to the deteriorating environment, our integration grouping remains to be an authoritative economic organization proved by an expansion in the EAEU’s trading partners from Singapore to Serbia”, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.

Speaking of the peace-keeping efforts of the country, he accentuated that Kazakhstan supports good mediation in settling the regional conflicts. The President confirmed the willingness to continue supporting the efforts to facilitate viable decisions for the Middle East, including the Astana process on Syria. Kazakhstan will continue to follow closely the situation in Afghanistan and maintain assistance to the country, where the situation has worsened considerably in recent months.

The Kazakh Head of State underlined that Kazakhstan was and is a consistent supporter of preventive diplomacy and disarmament.

“CICA may play a useful role as a platform for working out collective approaches towards security issues. It is high time to consider its transformation to a fully-fledged organization”, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.

In his speech, the Kazakh President marked that Kazakhstan would keep on addressing the risks of modernity.

“Without an integrated response to multifaceted security challenges the Asian economic miracle will become a colossus with feet of clay. Without collective efforts the Asian century of prosperity could end up the Asian dark times coupled with repercussions for the entire planet”, the President said.

The building of an effective architecture of security in East is possible only by interaction with West. In that regard, the Kazakh President recalled of Kazakhstan’s proposal to bring together the capacity of CICA and the OSCE.

“The focuses of joint work in our region could be the fight against terrorism and extremism, organized crime, illegal migration and drug-trafficking. The development of human capital, the introduction of the best public administration practices, increased innovational potential, efficient and rational use of water resources will be at stake”, the Head of State said.