About the visit of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to the "Week of Sustainable Development" in the UAE

During his working visit to the United Arab Emirates, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took part in the "Abu Dhabi Sustainable Development Week" summit, which brought together leading world leaders and experts to discuss global challenges to sustainable development.

Kazakh leader Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in the United Arab Emirates on January 13, 2025 on a working visit. On the same day, he met with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at the Qasr Al Shatie Palace. And on January 14, the head of state was the first to speak at the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Development Week summit.

In his speech, K. Tokayev focused on the main environmental problems facing humanity today: climate change, desertification, loss of biodiversity, water scarcity and food security. Geopolitical tensions are exacerbating these problems. The President stressed that Kazakhstan is ready to solve these problems through an ambitious strategy based on three key areas – digitalization and artificial intelligence, large infrastructure projects and nuclear energy. The concrete steps taken in this regard include the commitment by Kazakhstan's international partners to implement green energy projects in Kazakhstan with a total volume of 43 GW; the planned construction of nuclear power plants; and diversified supplies of critical raw materials to world markets, which are necessary to achieve global carbon reduction goals. Further, the head of our country noted the efforts of Kazakhstan, as the leading transit hub of Eurasia, to develop transport infrastructure, which is an essential prerequisite for sustainable development. Speaking about the problem of global warming, K. Tokayev emphasized the need to invest in water-saving technologies, modernize irrigation systems, and conclude effective agreements on water resources management. The solution to the food problem also directly concerns Kazakhstan, as a supplier of wheat and flour to the world market. Farming also needs innovative approaches. Therefore, our country aims to further improve the methods and technologies of sustainable agriculture. The President of Kazakhstan has put forward three principles for countering global challenges: "The first is to ensure green financing, which should become much more affordable. The second is the expansion of international cooperation in the field of technology transfer, technical support and scientific research. Solar energy, smart agriculture, carbon capture and climate technologies based on artificial intelligence offer a wide range of innovative solutions. The third is the synergetic interaction of climate priorities, economic development, and artificial intelligence, which could account for more than 16% of global GDP by 2030."

The speech of the Head of State points to the main guidelines for the development of Kazakhstan's economy, which are closely linked to the Sustainable Development Goals, developed and proclaimed in 2015 by the UN General Assembly as a "plan to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all."