26.03.2024, 18:10 140346
Olzhas Bektenov meets with Chairman of XUAR People's Government of China Erkin Tuniyaz
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The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov met with the Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the CPC XUAR China, Chairman of the People's Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China Erkin Tuniyaz, who arrived on a visit to Astana to participate in the second forum of exporters to participate in the second forum on "New approaches to the development of trade relations between Kazakhstan and China", primeminister.kz reports.
In the course of negotiations discussed issues of cooperation in trade, economic and investment spheres in the framework of the implementation of agreements reached at the level of heads of two states.
China is a major foreign trade partner of Kazakhstan. At the end of last year, bilateral trade turnover totalled $31.5 billion. China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region borders four Kazakh regions. Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region accounts for over 64% or $20.3bn of the total trade turnover with China.
The parties noted the strengthening of investment cooperation. The total inflow of investments from PRC since 2005 has reached almost $25 billion. For 9 months of last year the volume of direct Chinese investments increased by 37%. Today the list of 45 Kazakh-Chinese projects provides for a total investment of over $14.5bn.
An important direction of our interaction is the expansion of investment cooperation, supported by new joint industrial projects, including in the fields of petrochemicals and metallurgy," Olzhas Bektenov emphasised and noted the significant potential for diversification of trade relations.
During the talks, Olzhas Bektenov and Erkin Tuniyaz noted among the points of interaction transit-transport, cultural and interregional directions, as well as agriculture and tourism.
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25.07.2024, 20:31 4536
SCO Prosecutor Generals sign protocol of cooperation in Bishkek
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Kazakh Prosecutor General Berik Assylov took part in the 22nd meeting of the SCO Prosecutor Generals held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Kazinform News Agency cites the press service of the Kazakh General Prosecutor's Office.
Attending the meeting were the Prosecutor Generals of Belarus, India, Iran, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
During the event, the participants discussed the key aspects and priorities in the fight against crime, exchanged experiences and agreed to create necessary conditions to increase the efficiency of international cooperation in terms of development of modern information technologies, personal data protection and combating cybercrime.
The head of the Kazakh supreme supervisory authority shared experiences in using digital technology in priority crimes as well as the activity on investment attraction and protection.
Assylov stressed that the Kazakh President drew special attention to greater mutual trust and cooperation in the security field within the SCO initiative ‘On world unity for a just peace, accord and development’ and called on the SCO General Prosecutor’s Offices to adopt corresponding steps to implement it.
Following the meeting, the Protocol setting out the main areas of further cooperation of the prosecutors' offices of the SCO member states was signed.
In addition, the Kazakh Prosecutor General held bilateral meetings with his Chinese, Kyrgyz and Russian counterparts, discussing further joint steps to protect the rights of citizens, ensure law and order.
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22.07.2024, 08:20 7526
Head of State congratulated the King Philippe of Belgium
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Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sent a congratulatory telegram to King Philippe on the occasion of the National Day of the Kingdom of Belgium, Akorda reports.
I am delighted to note that Kazakhstan and Belgium enjoy enduring partnership that rests on close bonds of friendship and mutual respect", - the telegram reads.
In his telegram, the President of Kazakhstan wished King Philippe success in all his noble endeavours, and the Belgian people happiness and prosperity.
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09.07.2024, 18:09 20871
Head of State tasks to reduce maternal and newborn mortality rate in the country
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Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova, Akorda reports.
During the meeting, President Tokayev was informed that as of today the country sees the life expectancy reach over 75 years old. Since the beginning of the year, the country has been observing reduction in incidence rates of 21 infectious diseases, including coronavirus. Work is ongoing to carry out vaccination and preventive measures.
Alnazarova pointed out that special attention is placed on increasing the quality and accessibility of health services, as approaches in primary and inpatient medical care are being reviewed, diagnosis and treatment standards renewed as well as the personnel capacity of the sector enhanced.
According to the minister, work is underway to make the system of procurement of pharmaceuticals and medical items efficient and transparent. In addition, modern digital technologies are being developed and implemented to raise the efficiency of health facilities as well as to enhance control over the system of mandatory social health insurance.
The President was also briefed about the strategic plans to promote the health care infrastructure for 2025/30, including construction of new health facilities and further bettering the quality of health services. Under the Concept adopted, 34 anchor projects aimed at building a proper and efficient network of healthcare organizations are set to be carried out.
Following the meeting, the Head of State stressed the importance of continuing the work to reduce the maternal and newborn mortality rate. Moreover, the President set the tasks to qualitatively reshare the healthcare system with a focus on patient-centered practice. The need for transparent and efficient allocation of funds, including for pharmaceuticals, was noted.
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05.07.2024, 09:29 69666
Xi calls for building common home of solidarity, prosperity and fairness
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Chinese President Xi Jinping here on Thursday called for building a common home featuring solidarity and mutual trust, peace and tranquility, prosperity and development, good-neighborliness and friendship, as well as fairness and justice, Xinhua reports.
Xi made the remarks when attending the expanded meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), or SCO+.
At present, changes of historical significance across the world during our times are unfolding in ways like never before, Xi said, adding that the international landscape is undergoing rapid transformation.
To cope with this major transformation, the key is to have the wisdom to see the changes, the ability to deal with the changes, and the courage to make changes, Xi said.
China proposes that SCO member states do more to share their experience on governance and hold the SCO Political Parties Forum at an appropriate time, he said.
No matter how the international landscape changes, the SCO must hold the bottom line of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, Xi said.
Real security is premised on the security of all countries, he added.
We need to respect the development path of respective, independent choosing, and support each other in safeguarding core interests, he said.
We need to bridge our differences, build more consensus, and enhance mutual trust through strategic communication, Xi said.
He called for earnest efforts to establish a financing platform of the SCO, and welcomed all parties to use the Beidou Satellite Navigation System and participate in the development of the International Lunar Research Station.
China will provide at least 1,000 training opportunities on digital technology to fellow countries in the SCO in the next three years, and host 1,000 young people from countries in the SCO for exchange opportunities in China in the next five years, Xi said.
The Chinese president said the current SCO summit has issued the Astana Declaration, the SCO initiative on world unity for justice, harmony and development, and the statement on the principles of good-neighborliness, trust and partnership.
The SCO should make its important contribution to eliminating the deficits in peace, development, security and governance, he said.
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05.07.2024, 08:25 69841
Xi warns SCO members of real threat from Cold War mentality
Images | Xinhua/Xie Huanchi
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Chinese President Xi Jinping here Thursday called on the members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to ensure security in the face of real threat from the Cold War mentality, Xinhua reports.
Xi made the remarks when attending the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO.
He urged the member states to adhere to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, address complex and intertwined security challenges through dialogue and coordination, and respond to the profoundly changing international landscape with a win-win approach, so as to build a world of lasting peace and universal security.
Xi spoke highly of Kazakhstan's positive efforts and significant contributions to improving the operational mechanism of the SCO and deepening cooperation in various fields during its rotating presidency, and welcomed Belarus to attend the SCO summit as a member state for the first time.
He pointed out that the SCO was founded at the turn of the century when confrontations and divisions left by the Cold War had yet to be resolved.
The SCO founding members made a historical decision to pursue peaceful development, commit to good-neighborliness and friendship, and build a new type of international relations, Xi said, adding that the "Shanghai Spirit" has become a shared value and guiding principle for the member states.
Noting that the SCO has had its 10th member state since its establishment 23 years ago, Xi said the foundation for SCO cooperation has become more solid as the SCO "big family" has growing membership which covers three continents around the world.
As the world is faced with accelerating changes unseen in a century, the human society is standing at a crossroads of history again, Xi said.
Xi pointed out that the SCO stands on the right side of history, fairness and justice, and is of great significance to the world.
He called on SCO members to safeguard the right to development in the face of real risks of "small yard, high fences."
Xi noted that SCO members should adhere to mutual benefits and inclusiveness, join hands to push for scientific and technological innovation, keep industrial and supply chains stable and smooth, stimulate the internal impetus of regional economies, and work towards common development goals.
SCO members should consolidate unity and jointly oppose external interference in the face of the real challenges of interference and division, he said.
The SCO members should firmly support each other, accommodate each other's concerns, handle internal differences with a spirit of harmony, and resolve cooperation difficulties by seeking common ground while reserving differences, and firmly grasp the destiny of our countries and the peace and development of the region in our own hands, Xi said.
The SCO has withstood the test of the changing international landscape, the root cause of which lies in the fact that SCO members remain committed to the fine tradition of solidarity and coordination, the way of cooperation featuring equality and mutual benefit, the value pursuit on fairness and justice, and the broad-mindedness of inclusiveness and mutual learning, Xi stressed.
Xi called on the member states to stay true to the original aspiration, continue to uphold the "Shanghai Spirit," help each other on their respective path to success, jointly maintain the development direction of the SCO, and build the organization into a reliable backbone for common prosperity and revitalization of its member states.
Leaders of the SCO members attending the meeting spoke positively of the constructive role of the organization in safeguarding regional peace and security, and voiced readiness to further strengthen cooperation in such areas as trade, transportation, energy, finance, agriculture, digital economy and technological innovation, as well as to deepen people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in education, culture, tourism and youth, among other fields.
Noting that the current global political and economic landscape as well as international relations are undergoing major changes, the leaders said the United Nations should play a central coordinating role in promoting the building of a more representative, democratic and equitable multipolar world system, and pushing for an economic globalization that is mutually beneficial and inclusive.
They called for respecting the legitimate security concerns of all countries, committing to resolve differences and disputes between countries through peaceful means, and opposing unilateral sanctions and interference in other countries' internal affairs.
The leaders agreed to improve the SCO mechanism for dealing with security threats and challenges, resolutely combat the "three forces," drug trafficking and transnational organized crime, support the international community's efforts for peace and development in Afghanistan, and support a comprehensive and just settlement of the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution.
They signed and issued a series of documents, including an Astana declaration, and an initiative calling for solidarity among countries to promote world justice, harmony and development.
The meeting formally approved Belarus' accession to the SCO, and decided that China will resume the rotating presidency of the organization for 2024-2025.
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04.07.2024, 17:25 67861
Kazakhstan hands over SCO presidency to China for 2024-25 period
Images | Akorda
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Today, the Astana Declaration of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO member states was signed following the SCO summit in the Kazakh capital, within which China will assume the rotating presidency of the SCO for 2024-2025, Kazinform News Agency cites the press service of the Organization.
SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming thanked the Republic of Kazakhstan for the productive work as the Chair during the meeting of the SCO Council of the Heads of State.
Before concluding, I’d like to thank the Republic of Kazakhstan for the productive work as the Chair as well as congratulate the People’s Republic of China on the beginning of the presidency of the Organization, said the SCO Secretary General.
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04.07.2024, 16:12 68011
Nurlan Yermekbayev appointed Secretary General of the SCO
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At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana, member states elected a new Secretary General of the organization. Kazakhstan's Nurlan Yermekbayev becomes the new Secretary General for 2025-2027, Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports.
In different years Yermekbayev worked as defense minister, minister for religious affairs and civil society deputy foreign minister and assistant to the president - secretary of the Security Council. He is currently serving as Deputy Secretary General of the SCO.
Yermekbayev holds the diplomatic rank of Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary First Class. Speaks Kazakh, Russian, English, Chinese and Portuguese.
The Secretary General is appointed from among the citizens of the member states on a rotational basis for a period of three years without the right of extension for the next term. Zhang Ming of China has been SCO Secretary-General since 1 January 2022.
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04.07.2024, 14:53 68166
SCO members sign key documents on cooperation, including Astana Declaration
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At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana, the leaders of the participating countries signed a number of key documents aimed at deepening cooperation in various fields, Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports.
The Astana Declaration of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO member states is signed.
The following decisions have been signed by the Heads of State:
- To approve the SCO initiative on world unity for just peace, harmony and development;
- On the draft SCO development strategy until 2035;
- On proposals by the Council of Foreign Ministers of the SCO member states to improve SCO activities;
- On approval of the program of cooperation of the SCO member states in countering terrorism, separatism and extremism for 2025-2027;
- To approve the SCO anti-drug strategy for 2024-2029 and the action program for its implementation;
- To approve the strategy for the development of energy cooperation of the SCO member states until 2030;
- To approve the action plan for the implementation of the SCO economic development strategy until 2030;
- On the association of investors of the SCO member states;
- To approve a program to develop cooperation between the SCO member states in the field of protected areas and eco-tourism;
- On declaring Qingdao City of the People's Republic of China the SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital in 2024-2025;
- To approve the road map on strengthening interaction between SCO member states and SCO dialogue partners;
- On mechanisms of financial support for SCO project activities;
- On signing a memorandum of understanding between the SCO Secretariat and the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Center for combating Illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors;
- On the plan of interaction between the SCO member states on ensuring international information security;
- On the SCO Secretary General;
- On the Director of the SCO RATS Executive Committee;
- On the report of the SCO Secretary General on SCO activities over the past year;
- On the report of the SCO RATS Council on SCO RATS activities in 2023.
The heads of state also adopted statements:
- Statement of the SCO Council of Heads of State on the principles of good-neighborliness, trust and partnership;
- Statement of the SCO Council of Heads of State on the provision of drinking water and sanitation;
- Statement of the SCO Council of Heads of State on effective waste management.
An agreement between the SCO member-states "On cooperation in the field of environmental protection" was also signed.
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