Events

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took part in the official inauguration ceremony of the Headquarters of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), held in Astana.

The Head of State together with CICA Secretary General Kairat Sarybay unveiled a commemorative plaque marking the opening of the Organization’s head office. The ceremony was followed by the raising of the CICA flag by an honor guard.

The President toured the new headquarters, including executive offices, an open-space work area, the interpreters’ office, the chairmanship hall, and the museum-library section.

In his remarks, the Head of State congratulated all current and former members of Kazakhstan’s diplomatic service on their professional holiday.

– Our ancestors have long followed the principles of ‘Steppe diplomacy.’ The friendly Kazakh people created a unique model of peaceful coexistence on the Great Steppe. Respect and mutual understanding have always been our core values. These principles remain a solid foundation and guiding force of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy, – stated President Tokayev.

The Head of State emphasized that the opening of the CICA Headquarters in Kazakhstan’s capital is a truly significant and historic event.

– More than three decades ago, Kazakhstan initiated the establishment of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia. This noble endeavor was widely supported by the international community as a timely step forward to consolidate joint efforts in our region to enhance stability and security. From the very beginning, we believed that only through cooperation, mutual understanding, and dialogue can our diverse region achieve lasting peace, stability, and prosperity. In today’s world, CICA’s emphasis on confidence-building measures is more relevant than ever. Covering nearly 90% of Asia and representing more than half of the world's population, CICA stands as an important element of the evolving architecture of international relations, – Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted.

The President stressed that the resurgence of geopolitical tensions and the undermining of multilateralism pose serious challenges to both regional and global stability.

– The world is facing extraordinary complex and unprecedented processes that demand serious reflection and profound understanding. In essence, there is a gradual erosion of the very foundations of international law, with a worrying shift towards the primacy of force over the rule of law. In this regard, it is essential that all nations uphold the principles of international law and the UN Charter, without biased interpretations of its norms, – stated the President Tokayev.

President reaffirmed that Kazakhstan will be continuously committed to implementing large-scale political and economic reforms.

– My presidential credo is clear and strong: Law and Order. Our reforms have liberalized assembly laws, reduced party registration thresholds, decriminalized defamation and abolished the death penalty. These measures demonstrate our firm adherence to democracy and the rule of law, – Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.

The President underlined Kazakhstan's economic development in the coming years, highlighting large-scale infrastructural projects with a focus on energy, transport and digital infrastructure.

– We are actively modernizing our railway systems, roads, seaports and developing other transit and logistics infrastructure together with our international partners. Digital transformation and artificial intelligence represent our pathway to future competitiveness. We envision Kazakhstan as a fully digitalized nation, with AI serving as a key driver of growth, innovation, and digital sovereignty. To consolidate our efforts in this strategically important domain, Kazakhstan has established the AI Development Council and delivered the powerful Supercomputer, – the Head of State stressed.

Another strategic direction, as President Tokayev called it, is the agricultural modernization, which continues to drive economic diversification and food security.

– Kazakhstan’s message is clear: we are building an economy that is resilient, fully integrated into global value chains, and aligned with global climate and sustainability goals. To achieve these long-term objectives, we are committed to work closely with our international partners. In this regard, I would like to highlight the essential role of diplomatic community in facilitating this important strategy, – the President concluded.

In conclusion, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev wished success to the entire CICA family and expressed his sincere appreciation to Azerbaijan, a good friend of Kazakhstan, for its responsible chairmanship and steadfast efforts in promoting dialogue, trust, partnership as well as advancing institutional development of this important organization.