ASHGABAT: Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has proposed developing a comprehensive Development Strategy for the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) through 2035, focusing on economic cooperation, energy, infrastructure, advanced technologies and human capital.Speaking at a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State, Tokayev called on the CIS Executive Committee, in cooperation with member states’ governments, to begin drafting the proposed strategy to establish clear priorities and improve coordination among existing programmes.
He noted that the current CIS Development Concept was approved in 2007 and updated six years ago, while subsequent programmes and documents have often lacked coordination.Tokayev stressed the need to strengthen economic ties and expand industrial and technological partnerships among member states. He said CIS markets account for more than a quarter of Kazakhstan’s foreign trade turnover, reaching approximately $40 billion last year, with trade growing by 10 per cent during the first seven months of the current year.
Highlighting the importance of the Commonwealth amid growing global uncertainty, Tokayev said international economic relations were undergoing significant changes while technological competition continued to intensify.He emphasised that direct and trust-based dialogue among member states was essential to reaching mutually beneficial solutions while respecting the interests of each country.Tokayev also invited scientists, legal experts, historians and other specialists from CIS countries to participate in an international conference marking the 35th anniversary of the Alma-Ata Declaration. The conference is scheduled to take place in November in Almaty under the auspices of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies.
