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Astana International Forum (8 June 2023)

Astana

Today (8 June) a major global conference, the two-day Astana International Forum, began in Astana, Kazakhstan, bringing together world leaders to identify actionable solutions to pressing global challenges.

Over 3,000 guests from 70+ countries are attending the Forum’s 40+ sessions, including Heads of State, renowned leaders, CEOs, and distinguished experts from all over the world.

The President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev opened the Plenary Session and Opening Ceremony for the Forum, which also featured:

• H.H. Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar
• H.E. Sadyr Japarov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic                                                                                             
• H.E. Željka Cvijanović, Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• H.E. Abdulla Aripov, The Prime-Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan
• Audrey Azoulay, Director-General, UNESCO
• Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, IMF
• Helga Schmid, Secretary General, OSCE
• Armida Alisjahbana, Under Secretary General, ESCAP
• Richard Quest, CNN (moderator)

In his opening remarks, the President of Kazakhstan stated:

“As a combination of geopolitical pressures are pushing us apart, we face a clear, strong imperative to come together, to engage, to collaborate, and to align with one another.

“At such a time, the Astana International Forum is one of many possible steps to reverse this trend. Only by meeting together, taking counsel together, being mutually honest about our problems, our concerns and our hopes, can the international community address these issues.

“Only this way can we shape our shared future, and return to the gradual building of a more stable, equitable, and prosperous world for all.”

The United Nations and CNN are strategic partners of the Forum. The UN has supported the event by providing high-level speakers and coordinating the participation of several UN agencies.

Addressing participants via a video message, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said:

“We at the United Nations are working to bring countries together to address the gaps in global governance and find solutions. Our Common Agenda initiative proposes a renewed multilateralism that is fairer and more inclusive, that addresses new risks and threats that will protect our planet for the benefit of future generations.

“Global leaders must act now to rescue the Sustainable Development Goals, reform an unfair financial architecture and address common threats at a series of important summits starting with the SDG Summit in September.

“Building on these, the Summit of the Future next year will consider how to take forward many of the proposals of our Common Agenda, and the Astana International Forum provides a new opportunity to discuss these issues and try to find collaborative, sustainable and innovative solutions for all.”

The high-level event will be held under the overarching theme Tackling challenges through dialogue: towards cooperation, development & progress with discussions focusing around four key challenges:

• Foreign policy & international security
• International development & sustainability
• Energy & climate change
• Economy & finance

These pillars are at the heart of the program, which includes over panel sessions, armchair discussions, and other side events.

Other distinguished guests at the Forum include:

• Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization
• Miroslav Jenča, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas at the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA)
• Ivana Živković, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations
• Margareta Cederfelt, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
• Zhang Ming, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
• Odile Renaud-Basso, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
• Masatsugu Asakawa, President of the Asian Development Bank
• Francesco La Camera, Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency
• Janusz Wojciechowski, European Commissioner for Agriculture
• H.E. Suhail Mohammed Faraj Al Mazroui, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure of the United Arab Emirates
• H.E. Dr. Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Minister of Finance of Indonesia
• H.E. Mikayil Jabbarov, Minister of Economy, Azerbaijan
• H.E. Bujar Osmani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Republic of North Macedonia, OSCE Chairman-in-Office
• H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation of Egypt
• H.E. Kreshnik Bekteshi, Minister of Economy, North Macedonia
• H.E. Ms Candith Mashego-Dlamini, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Africa
• Rae Kwon Chung, Director of the Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future, and former Ambassador for Climate Change of the Republic of Korea
• Patrick Pouyanne, CEO of TotalEnergies
• Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar
• Lorenzo Simonelli, Chairman and CEO of Baker Hughes
• Terhi Hakala, EU Special Representative for Central Asia
• Jose Manuel Barroso, Former President of the European Commission
• H.E. Dr Mulatu Teshome, former President of Ethiopia
• H.E. Dr Lassina Zerbo, former Prime Minister of Burkina Faso
• Thomas Greminger, Swiss diplomat and former Secretary-General of the OSCE

Organized by the Government of Kazakhstan, the Forum is taking place at the Congress Centre of the EXPO Business District in Astana, the country's landmark exhibition complex.

Notes to the Editors

For further information about the Astana International Forum, please visit our website or download the AIF brochure.

Videos and photos of the AIF can be found on the President’s Telegram channel, Telegram channel for AIF, multimedia page of the AIF website.

Contact

For media enquiries or interview requests, please contact the media support team of the Astana International Forum via [email protected]

Organising Team

Astana International Forum