Kazakhstan - bridge between North, South, East, West
Opinion by Al Jazeera
REGION 07 June 2023 - 23:01
Serik Zhumangarin, Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister, has written an opinion piece for Al Jazeera arguing that as a host of the Astana International Forum, the country hopes to re-energise global cooperation and multilateralism. Caliber.Az reprints the article.
My country Kazakhstan has always been a bridge between the East and the West, lying along the old silk road. Today, not only is it bridging the divide between the East and the West, but also between the Global North and the Global South.
It is in this context that on June 8 Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will open the Astana International Forum, a global event aimed at renewing the culture of multilateralism. It is part of our multi-vector foreign policy which seeks to engage countries in the north, south, east and west.
The forum will bring people together from across the world and give participants an opportunity to address global challenges and chart a new way forward. We are honoured that one of our guests will be the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who will lead a delegation to the forum representing his country.
Occasions such as the Astana International Forum present us with an opportunity to consider how to overcome key global challenges currently facing humanity, which broadly speaking, fall into three interlinked categories – economy, climate change and international relations.
First, the weak economic growth, high inflation, soaring energy prices, and critical supply chain issues which emerged following the COVID-19 pandemic and world conflicts continue to cast a shadow over the global economic outlook. In January, the IMF reported that the global economy is poised to slow down even further in the coming months, with growth only expected to rebound next year.
Hope on this front, however, can be seen in emerging markets, where higher than average growth rates – about 4 per cent – are projected compared with advanced economies, which will expand by only 1.2 per cent. This highlights the importance of emerging markets to investors at this time.
As minister of trade and integration, I have seen firsthand the benefits of foreign direct investment after the country’s independence in 1991, especially in Kazakhstan’s energy and mining sectors.
These investments have contributed significantly to the development of cities and regions and have activated local economies. Going forward, the manufacturing industry, the agricultural sector, and the heavy industry are at the top of our priority list for investment.
Second, a growing concern for emerging and advanced economies alike is the climate emergency which is manifesting itself in increasingly more intense droughts, wildfires and floods. This has led to growing food and water security concerns in the Global South, where countries have to allocate larger proportions of their gross domestic product (GDP) to protect their populations and essential infrastructure.
The climate emergency is exacerbating the North-South divide and existing inequalities. That is why many countries in the Global South are calling on development banks and global financial institutions to unlock more funds to help ease and accelerate the transition to renewable energy.
There is growing disunity on this subject at a time when the world needs to take a united stand to tackle this global challenge. Overcoming disagreement necessitates developing partnerships and cooperation.
And this brings me to the third challenge: recognising the need for open, frank and productive global dialogue. Today, globalisation continues to bind us closer together and deepen our interdependence. And there is no way to tackle new economic hurdles, the climate emergency, shifting geopolitical priorities or mass demographic changes without cooperation and keeping channels of communication open.
President Tokayev has often stated that there is no viable alternative to globalisation, interdependence, and the international order based on the UN Charter. It is imperative for us to strengthen global cooperation, not reject it. Diplomacy and dialogue are the solution, and global gatherings which bring partners together – old and new – are the means to facilitate this.
We hope that the Astana International Forum will become a key venue where multilateralism is resurrected and where we are able to agree on solutions for global problems. As hosts, we hope to see collective responsibility reaffirmed and collaboration and cooperation strengthen so we can all move towards a brighter future together.
Caliber.Az
1
|
Armenia returns four villages to Azerbaijan, paving the way for peace in the South Caucasus Landmark accord
23 April 2024 - 09:14
|
2
|
Armenian PM's Moscow visit sparks speculation on bilateral relations Dilemma between East, West
23 April 2024 - 11:19
|
3
|
Air France plane safely evacuated at Heydar Aliyev Int’l Airport
24 April 2024 - 19:08
|
4
|
Bilateral relations, regional dynamics, & peacekeepers’ withdrawal Key takeaways from President Aliyev's Moscow visit
24 April 2024 - 14:07
|
5
|
Gulf – Central Asian partnership is on the rise Global uncertainty
22 April 2024 - 16:55
|
Azerbaijan submits report on Convention against Torture to UN
25 April 2024 - 09:55
Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan sign Memorandum on Cooperation in religious sphere
25 April 2024 - 09:43
US welcomes start of Azerbaijan-Armenia border delimitation process
25 April 2024 - 09:21
PM vows to boost UK defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030
25 April 2024 - 09:07
Azerbaijani, Turkish communities hold rally against fictitious Armenian genocide in Washington
PHOTO25 April 2024 - 09:00
EU’s 2050 net zero goals at risk as electric vehicle rollout faces setbacks
25 April 2024 - 07:03
World’s largest wealth fund issues inflation warning on hot commodity markets
real wildcard25 April 2024 - 05:04
How US F-16 fighter jets stack up to Su-35s sent to Iran?
25 April 2024 - 03:05
Belgian brewer whose body produces its own alcohol cleared of drink driving
25 April 2024 - 01:03
Milan becomes latest European hotspot to battle overtourism
No ice cream and pizza after midnight24 April 2024 - 23:00
Germany's position on Taurus remains unchanged
24 April 2024 - 20:59
German business activity increasing in April
24 April 2024 - 20:48
Baku to host space technology conf for Central Asian region
24 April 2024 - 20:45
Sweden’s plan for worst-case scenario
War spreading in Europe24 April 2024 - 20:40
President’s special rep: Karabakh can be called eco-region of Azerbaijan
24 April 2024 - 20:32
Azerbaijani energy minister holds talks with Algerian delegation on advancing bilateral cooperation
24 April 2024 - 20:28
China's Xiaomi selling more EVs than expected
raising hopes it can break even sooner24 April 2024 - 20:24
France proposes new EU sanctions to fight Russian disinformation
24 April 2024 - 20:18
European Commission disburses additional $1.6 billion in bridge financing to Ukraine
24 April 2024 - 20:16
Serb Member of Presidency of Bosnia & Herzegovina Željka Cvijanović invited to COP29
24 April 2024 - 20:12
UK to transfer Paveway IV bombs to Ukraine
PHOTO24 April 2024 - 19:59
Azerbaijani minister, Uzbek ambassador discuss defence cooperation issues
PHOTO24 April 2024 - 19:48
State reception commences to honor Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov
24 April 2024 - 19:40
MFA: Azerbaijan continues contributing to peace, security
24 April 2024 - 19:35
Kyrgyz president pays tribute to Azerbaijani martyrs
24 April 2024 - 19:30
Azerbaijani MPs, assistants to US congressmen discuss relations with Armenia, Russia
PHOTO24 April 2024 - 19:27
Kyrgyz president pays respect to Great Leader Heydar Aliyev
24 April 2024 - 19:19
Turkish president appeals to Armenian Patriarch
24 April 2024 - 19:15
Türkiye rejects “one-sided” statements on 1915 events
24 April 2024 - 19:09
Air France plane safely evacuated at Heydar Aliyev Int’l Airport
24 April 2024 - 19:08
United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations receives report of incident near Djibouti
24 April 2024 - 19:03
Azerbaijani, Kyrgyz leaders unveil monument to prominent novelist
24 April 2024 - 18:55
US Central Command, Royal Jordanian Air Force conduct humanitarian airdrops into Gaza
24 April 2024 - 18:51
Iran not to surrender to West's bullying, sanctions
24 April 2024 - 18:45
ADA University rep: Kyrgyzstan to become third country participating in school construction in Karabakh
24 April 2024 - 18:36
China’s president visits Belgrade around anniversary of NATO embassy bombing
24 April 2024 - 18:22
Best way to avoid war is to “talk less, prepare more”
Finland’s president says24 April 2024 - 18:07
International experts view restoration activities in Lachin
24 April 2024 - 18:03
Jamaica recognizes State of Palestine
24 April 2024 - 17:53
"Peoples of South Caucasus should resolve their differences independently"
Foreign analysts on Caliber.Az24 April 2024 - 17:40