Tokayev says UN renewal depends on stronger preventive diplomacy

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said the United Nations cannot be renewed without strengthening preventive diplomacy and securing greater political responsibility from its member states.

Tokayev said Kazakhstan valued UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ contribution to protecting international law. In his view, Guterres’ reform initiative should make the organization more effective and results-oriented while preserving its universal character. Its success, he said, would depend on the political will and responsibility of member states.

The Kazakh president also assigned a larger role to responsible middle powers. “I believe they can and must facilitate dialogue between different centers of power and the development of collective solutions,” he said. He added that their positions and initiatives should appear in global governance mechanisms, and said Kazakhstan was ready to support that process.

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I believe they can and must facilitate dialogue between different centers of power and the development of collective solutions. Their positions and initiatives should be reflected in global governance mechanisms. Kazakhstan is ready to actively support this process.

Tokayev said collective efforts were needed to build a culture of conflict prevention and peaceful dispute resolution. He cited Kazakhstan’s support for a Chinese initiative in July and its membership in the Convention on the Establishment of the International Mediation Organization.

He also linked global stability to the responsible development of artificial intelligence. “Universal rules are needed to unlock the creative potential of artificial intelligence, prevent its uncontrolled use, and bridge the digital divide,” Tokayev said. He highlighted plans to establish the UN ESCAP Asia-Pacific Center for Digital Solutions in Almaty, saying it could help spread best practices, particularly in developing countries.

Tokayev acknowledged that criticism of the United Nations was often justified, but said the organization remained indispensable because there was no alternative to it. He called for greater effectiveness while maintaining the UN’s central role in the international system.

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Universal rules are needed to unlock the creative potential of artificial intelligence, prevent its uncontrolled use, and bridge the digital divide. At Kazakhstan's initiative, the UN ESCAP Asia-Pacific Center for Digital Solutions will be established in Almaty.