The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC 3). This was reported by IIC.

The Head of State expressed his gratitude to the President of Turkmenistan for the high level of organisation of the forum and the warm welcome, and also thanked UN Secretary-General António Guterres for his continued support for landlocked countries.

In his speech, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev recalled that it was Kazakhstan that initiated the first UN conference on LLDCs in 2003, laying the foundation for the international agenda in this area. According to him, the current meeting at the ‘Avaza’ National Tourist Complex gives new impetus to the joint efforts of 32 states representing more than 500 million people.

The President of Kazakhstan stressed that limited transport and logistics connectivity remains a key challenge for landlocked countries. High transit and trade costs reduce their competitiveness and increase social vulnerability, while global conflicts, sanctions and supply chain disruptions create additional challenges.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called for such states to be considered full partners in shaping the global agenda, strengthening international cooperation. He expressed his full support for the Awaza Programme of Action for 2024–2034, which, in his opinion, serves as a ‘roadmap to a sustainable, inclusive and interconnected future.’