Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev participated in a narrow-format meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Council of Heads of State during his working visit to Moscow. He expressed gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the warm reception and praised Russia's effective chairmanship of the CIS.
During his remarks, Tokayev highlighted the importance of the CIS, emphasizing Kazakhstan's commitment to further strengthening the organization's role as an authoritative international body, originally founded under the Alma-Ata Declaration in 1991. He credited the CIS for stabilizing the post-Soviet region, preventing the disintegration experienced in places like the Balkans during the 1990s.
“The CIS can and should be credited for averting a worst-case scenario in the post-Soviet space. We must protect our Commonwealth, strengthen mutual trust, avoid public criticisms at the level of heads of state, and act with restraint and prudence,” Tokayev emphasized.
Tokayev noted that the current meeting aims to reinvigorate the CIS amidst rising geopolitical instability. He welcomed the peace efforts between Azerbaijan and Armenia and highlighted progress in the legal formalization of Central Asian borders. He also underscored the CIS’s growing international recognition as a regional organization contributing to global cooperation.
“The CIS has developed strong ties with UN structures and other international organizations. Last year’s creation of Observer and Partner statuses for the CIS has shown the openness of our organization,” Tokayev stated. He proposed the establishment of a "CIS+ format" to expand the Commonwealth's regional ties.
Amid global economic challenges, Tokayev stressed the importance of prioritizing trade and economic cooperation. He emphasized Kazakhstan's interest in CIS markets, which account for over a quarter of the country’s foreign trade. The president also highlighted the 2023 Agreement on Free Trade in Services and Investments as a key element for deepening economic ties.
The Kazakh president also proposed launching an interstate program called "Commonwealth Fair," which would host trade events across CIS cities, featuring artisans and farmers from across Eurasia. Tokayev suggested Taraz, one of Kazakhstan's oldest cities and a key hub along the Great Silk Road, as the host for the first exhibition.
Expanding transport corridors was another key focus, with Tokayev noting Kazakhstan’s efforts to expand its railway infrastructure along major international routes. He called for completing the development of a transport concept linking CIS states, stressing that integration of initiatives such as China’s Belt and Road, the North-South Transport Corridor, and the Trans-Caspian Route would facilitate economic and transport development across the continent.
Tokayev identified digitalization as a promising area for cooperation and called for expanded spiritual and cultural ties between CIS member states. He highlighted the recent success of the World Nomad Games in Astana, which attracted over 2,000 athletes from 85 countries, as evidence of the global interest in the region's cultural heritage.
In the field of education, the president proposed launching a new program, "Academic Capital of the Commonwealth," to encourage student exchanges and academic cooperation between CIS universities.
Tokayev also advocated for the joint development of a Eurasian Security Concept, suggesting that the CIS is the most suitable platform for this important discussion.
The President of Kazakhstan concluded his remarks by stressing the importance of commemorating the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, emphasizing the shared legacy of the Commonwealth’s nations in defending freedom and justice.
He also supported the decision to appoint Tajikistan as the chair of the CIS in 2025 and agreed to host the next CIS summit in Dushanbe.
The meeting was attended by leaders of other CIS states, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
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