Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov met with United Nations Deputy Secretary-General and UNDP Associate Administrator Haoliang Xu during Xu’s visit to Kazakhstan for the Astana International Forum. The high-level discussion focused on deepening cooperation and advancing joint projects in ecology and climate resilience across Central Asia.
Prime Minister Bektenov highlighted that achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains a top priority for Kazakhstan. The country has integrated SDG targets into several key national strategic documents and has a longstanding partnership with the UN, having implemented more than 200 projects across various sectors to date.
Currently, 35 active projects in Kazakhstan span areas such as digital transformation in healthcare, improving social protection efficiency, attracting investments for energy efficiency, promoting sustainable agriculture, and strengthening national human rights mechanisms.
A key topic of discussion was the proposal to establish a UNDP subregional office in Almaty. This office would coordinate efforts to bolster Central Asia’s resilience amid climate change, water scarcity, and economic shocks. The region is rapidly emerging as an important player in global trade and energy markets, underscoring the need for coordinated international support.
Photo: UN Deputy Secretary-General Haoliang Xu
“President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev places great importance on strengthening Kazakhstan’s partnership with the United Nations. Constructive engagement between our Head of State and UN Secretary-General António Guterres has energized joint initiatives. Kazakhstan is firmly committed to addressing climate change. We are integrating the climate agenda into our development plans and collaborating closely with international partners. Our Strategy for Achieving Carbon Neutrality outlines a clear roadmap for a low-carbon economy, detailing key transformations required across all sectors,” Prime Minister Bektenov stated.
Deputy Secretary-General Haoliang Xu stressed the significance of broad cooperation with Kazakhstan in advancing UNDP’s social and environmental initiatives across the region.
Both leaders concluded the meeting by reaffirming their dedication to enhancing the partnership and expanding collaboration in all promising areas for sustainable development in Central Asia.
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