In his speech, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev thanked President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov for the initiative to convene the conference, and also expressed gratitude to UN Secretary-General António Guterres for his commitment to addressing the problems and realizing the opportunities of landlocked developing countries (LLDCs).

- More than two decades ago, Kazakhstan took a leading role by hosting the First UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, which marked the beginning of its long-term continuous participation in this process. During this historic event, the Almaty Programme of Action was adopted, which for the first time included the issues of the LLDC Group in the global development agenda. Today, we have gathered in Avaza to make new efforts to further advance the goals we face, - the Head of State emphasized.
The 32 landlocked developing countries represent more than half a billion people, he said, many of whom still face barriers to accessing finance, technology and global markets.

– Limited regional transport links remain the main challenge for landlocked countries. This problem entails a number of economic difficulties, including high transit and trade costs, as well as vulnerability to geopolitical factors. These restrictions affect the well-being of citizens and reduce competitiveness. They are further aggravated by conflicts, economic sanctions, supply chain disruptions and growing global mistrust. Nevertheless, Kazakhstan believes that LLDCs should be considered as equal and promising partners in shaping the global agenda. The voices of landlocked developing countries should be louder, our cooperation should be deeper, and our collective ambitions should be bolder, – said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The head of state noted that Kazakhstan fully supports the Avaza Action Programme as a roadmap towards an inclusive and sustainable future.

"This important undertaking should receive political support from transit countries, international development organizations and financial institutions. Innovative financial mechanisms are needed to stimulate investment in key sectors such as transport, energy and digital infrastructure," the President said.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev named climate change as another pressing problem.

– Many LLDCs face water shortages, melting glaciers, desertification and other extreme weather events. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated regional efforts and active international support. At the same time, I believe that measures to combat climate change should remain balanced and inclusive, and meet the countries’ justified development needs. To strengthen our joint efforts to combat climate change, I invite you to the Regional Environmental Summit, which will be held in Astana in partnership with the United Nations in April next year, – said the Head of our State.
He said that Kazakhstan, together with its partners, is making significant efforts to strengthen regional connectivity, advance digital transformation and promote long-term sustainable growth.

– We prioritize the development of transport corridors and transit infrastructure along the North-South and Middle Corridor routes. Our long-term goal is to create a unified network of rail, road, aviation and logistics centers. This will strengthen Kazakhstan’s position as a Eurasian transit hub, which currently accounts for almost 85% of overland cargo shipments between Asia and Europe. We are also investing in digitalization. Kazakhstan has established the Alem.AI Artificial Intelligence Center in Astana and recently launched a supercomputer. Our doors are open for scientific cooperation, and we invite partners to join us, – said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Speaking on issues on the regional agenda, the Head of State noted that the experience of Central Asia shows that geography does not determine destiny.

– We are moving from the current landlocked state to a future where land connectivity will be no less important. Our region demonstrates resilience in its socio-economic development and shows that with political will, strategic investment and international partnership, landlockedness can become a powerful driver of growth rather than an obstacle. We are witnessing how Central Asia has become a region of mutually beneficial interaction with dynamically developing potential in trade, investment, transport, communications, and sustainable resource management. Two days ago, Kazakhstan signed an Agreement with the United Nations to establish the UN Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan with headquarters in Almaty. I am confident that this is an important achievement for the entire region, which is fully consistent with the noble goals of the Avaza Program. Once again, I express my gratitude to the UN Secretary-General and all our Central Asian partners for supporting Kazakhstan's initiative, – the President emphasized.

In conclusion, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev once again confirmed our country’s strong commitment to the goals and principles of the group of landlocked developing countries.

“Only by strengthening international partnerships can we ensure that LLDCs remain an integral part of the global development agenda,” the Head of our State concluded his speech.