Astana International Forum kicks off
Astana, The Gulf Observer: The Astana International Forum (AIF), a platform for dialogue addressing key global challenges, has kicked off today at 11.00 a.m. Astana time (6 a.m. GMT) at the capital’s Congress Centre of the EXPO Business District in Astana.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev opened the plenary session with welcoming remarks and expressed his gratitude toward the attending heads of states and executives of international organizations.
Tokayev emphasized the importance of dialogue in a “spirit of mutual cooperation,” renewing and rebuilding a common culture of multilateralism. “In the period of unprecedented geopolitical tensions, promoting peace and prosperity for the many is of paramount importance,” he said.
The AIF was launched at the initiative of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. According to him, the event is “unique because it offers a platform for global middle powers to discuss their views and positions on the issues of today and to put forward their own solutions to these issues.”
The high-level event under the theme Tackling Challenges Through Dialogue: Towards Cooperation, Development & Progress includes keynote speeches, over 40 panel sessions, discussions, and side events, covering issues related to the economy, energy, climate, and regional cooperation and development.
The first day has been opened with a Plenary session chaired by President Tokayev with the participation of high-level guests, including Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željka Cvijanović, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva to name a few.
Over 1,000 participants will discuss new ways to tackle challenges in four key dimensions: foreign policy and international security, international development and sustainability, energy and climate change, economy, and finance.
The forum, supported by the United Nations and CNN global news channel, will run for two days.
