Photo: akorda.kz
Kazakhstan supports China’s initiative to establish a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Development Bank. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced this at the 25th SCO summit in Tianjin, China, according to Akorda.
Astana is ready to participate “in the implementation of this promising project,” the president added. “In addition, we propose to create an SCO Office for Investment Project Support at the Astana International Financial Centre,” he noted.
Earlier today, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed establishing the SCO Development Bank as soon as possible “to strengthen support for cooperation among member states in security and economic affairs.”
Speaking at the summit, Tokayev also called on SCO countries to continue providing humanitarian and technical assistance to Afghanistan to help rebuild the country and integrate it into regional and economic processes. He stressed that Kazakhstan “has begun construction of a number of infrastructure and logistics projects in Afghanistan that will enhance connectivity among SCO member states.”
Tokayev further urged deeper cooperation in transit and transport. In addition to existing projects, he mentioned a new initiative, the “Trans-Altai Dialogue,” aimed at fostering development in the region linking Kazakhstan, Russia, China, and Mongolia, calling it “promising.”
Equally critical, according to the president, is expanding trade, economic, and investment cooperation. He said Kazakhstan supports SCO’s practical efforts to promote free and fair international trade and opposes the use of sanctions as a political tool.
Tokayev also underscored the importance of collaboration in ecology and artificial intelligence. “I am convinced that the SCO can become a global leader in the accelerated development of artificial intelligence. Therefore, we support China’s proposal to create a Global Organization for Cooperation in Artificial Intelligence and are ready to contribute to this extremely important endeavor,” he said, suggesting the establishment of an SCO expert forum on AI with regular sessions in member states.
“We are ready to host the first such meeting in Astana within the framework of the prestigious Digital Bridge forum,” Tokayev added.
The SCO summit is taking place in Tianjin, China, from August 31 to September 1, with more than 20 heads of member states in attendance.
