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STORY: KAZAKHSTAN / GUTERRES SDG CENTRE
TRT: 4:36
SOURCE: AKORDA PRESS-SERVICE
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT AKORDA PRESS-SERVICE ON SCREEN
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 03 AUGUST 2025, ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN
03 AUGUST 2025, UN PLAZA, ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN
1. Various shots, exterior, UN Plaza
2. Various shots, signing ceremony of the Host Country Agreement, by H.E. Murat Nurtleu, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan and Mr. Li Junhua, Under Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs witnessed by H.E. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan and the Secretary-General
3. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“We have just signed the host country agreement for the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan. The Centre represents the opening of a new chapter – for the region and for our collective journey towards the Sustainable Development Goals. It symbolizes the new era of cooperation in Central Asia – grounded in shared priorities and solutions. And it holds great potential for showing how the strong bonds among the region’s leaders can translate into deeper economic integration, for the benefit of all people. This is more essential than ever.”
4. Wide shot, conference room
5. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“Soon, it will serve as a hub for regional collaboration … a laboratory for ideas … and a launchpad for action. It will bring together governments, UN country teams, civil society, academia, the private sector, regional organizations, and financial institutions – to develop coordinated, country-led efforts; And tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our time – from climate change and water scarcity to youth unemployment, gender inequality and digital exclusion.”
6. Wide shot, conference room
7. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“And this Centre will work with partners across the region and the international community to support Afghanistan’s path to sustainable development – with full respect for human rights, including the rights of women and girls, and with a focus on economic self-sufficiency, peace, and dignity.”
8. Wide shot, conference room
9. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“Kazakhstan is for me a symbol of wisdom, a bridge builder and a messenger for peace. A platform for people of different ethnic and religious groups to come together and find a common destiny. I will never forget that Kazakhstan renounced its nuclear weapons and became, based on their attitude, a symbol of peace and disarmament that is necessary today more than ever.”
10. Various shots, conference room
03 AUGUST 2025, PRESIDENTIAL PALACE, ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN
11. Various shots, bilateral meeting with H.E. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
The UN and Kazakhstan signed a host country agreement for the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan. “The Centre represents the opening of a new chapter – for the region and for our collective journey towards the Sustainable Development Goals,” the Secretary-General said.
A signing ceremony of the Host Country Agreement was held today (03 Aug) in Almaty, by H.E. Murat Nurtleu, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan and Mr. Li Junhua, Under Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs witnessed by H.E. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan and the Secretary-General.
Speaking after the ceremony, Guterres said that the Centre symbolizes the new era of cooperation in Central Asia – grounded in shared priorities and solutions. “And it holds great potential for showing how the strong bonds among the region’s leaders can translate into deeper economic integration, for the benefit of all people. This is more essential than ever.”
The UN chief also said, “Soon, it will serve as a hub for regional collaboration … a laboratory for ideas … and a launchpad for action. It will bring together governments, UN country teams, civil society, academia, the private sector, regional organizations, and financial institutions – to develop coordinated, country-led efforts; And tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our time – from climate change and water scarcity to youth unemployment, gender inequality and digital exclusion.”
He added, “this Centre will work with partners across the region and the international community to support Afghanistan’s path to sustainable development – with full respect for human rights, including the rights of women and girls, and with a focus on economic self-sufficiency, peace, and dignity.”
The Secretary-General commended President Tokayev for his vision and his leadership in helping to shape this new Central Asia that will become more and more a fundamental power in the world order.
He said, “Kazakhstan is for me a symbol of wisdom, a bridge builder and a messenger for peace. A platform for people of different ethnic and religious groups to come together and find a common destiny.”
“I will never forget that Kazakhstan renounced its nuclear weapons and became, based on their attitude, a symbol of peace and disarmament that is necessary today more than ever,” Guterres conclude.
Before the ceremony, the Secretary-General held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The Secretary-General and the President discussed cooperation opportunities between the United Nations and Kazakhstan, and witnessed the signing of the Host Country Agreement for the UN Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan, formalized pursuant to a decision of the General Assembly.
The Secretary-General commended Kazakhstan for its pivotal role in advancing development, stability and prosperity across Central Asia.
