Translated with AI
The opening of the UN Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Central Asia and Afghanistan will mark the beginning of a new chapter in regional cooperation for a better future. This was announced by UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the centre's launch ceremony in Almaty, Kazakhstan, according to the UN press service.
According to the Secretary-General, the center symbolizes a new era of cooperation in Central Asia, based on shared priorities and solutions, and has significant potential to promote deeper economic integration in the region.
Traditions and innovations
The Secretary-General called Almaty a "worthy home" for the center, noting the city's historical significance and the country's role as a "bridge between East and West, tradition and innovation."
The Centre was established by the UN General Assembly. The corresponding agreement was signed on Sunday by Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu and UN Deputy Chief of Staff for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua. The Centre's mandate and the appointment of its leadership are expected to be finalized soon.
"It will soon become a hub for regional cooperation, a laboratory of ideas and a launchpad for action," Guterres said.
Challenges in Central Asia
The Secretary-General noted that the Centre will bring together key stakeholders – from governments and UN country teams to the private sector, academia and civil society – to jointly respond to the region’s challenges, including climate change, water scarcity, youth unemployment, gender inequality and the digital divide.
"In Central Asia, climate change is already leading to depleted water resources, melting glaciers, and more frequent natural disasters. The drying up of the Aral Sea is a stark reminder of the region's environmental vulnerability. Trade disputes and global uncertainty only exacerbate these risks. The region's continental location creates additional barriers—to trade, transport connectivity, access to finance, and global markets," Guterres emphasized.
Ahead of the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Countries, which will be held in Turkmenistan, he emphasized the importance of the center in implementing the relevant action plan. Its work will help ensure that states' aspirations are not limited by geography, but rather are supported by cooperation and regional solutions.
Support for Afghanistan
The Secretary-General paid special attention to Afghanistan in his speech.
"Afghanistan's people continue to face enormous challenges, from deep poverty and mass displacement to earthquakes, climate shocks and a fragile humanitarian situation," he said.
The Centre, according to the Secretary-General, will work with partners in 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-reliance, peace and dignity."
In conclusion, the Secretary-General expressed confidence that the Centre would become a driving force for change in the region.
"This Center carries the promise of partnership and progress. The United Nations stands ready to support you in this mission," he said.
