WNAM REPORT: At the plenary session of the Astana International Forum (AIF) 2025 on May 29, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed pressing global uncertainties and emphasized the need for unified responses grounded in shared values. Amidst rising conflicts and economic challenges, Tokayev stressed the importance of dialogue, reform, and youth engagement in building a stable and prosperous future.
Tokayev expressed high hopes for a productive exchange of views on global economic affairs, regional cooperation, and other pressing topics on the international agenda. He noted that the forum was taking place during a time of profound global uncertainty. While some might see it as a turning point, he believed the focus should be on how the community responds through their choices and values.
“What matters now is how we respond. That choice lies with us – in the decisions we make and the values we uphold,” he noted.
He highlighted the growing number of conflicts and wars across continents and societies.
“As of last year, 52 states were experiencing armed conflict. Meanwhile, the economic impact of violence reached $19 trillion – nearly 13.5% of global GDP,” he said.
Tokayev emphasized that instead of waging wars, the world must prioritize embracing human beings, particularly the younger generation, to become more engaged in making progress and creating enlightened societies.
He said that while conventional conflicts demand urgent attention, it is important to focus on the more challenging perspective of the growing strain between nuclear-armed states.
“We must recognize that the threats to global security are not only geopolitical. The post-war global order is fragmenting. Protectionism is rising. Multilateralism is faltering,” he noted.
According to him, Kazakhstan views this time of uncertainty through the prism of constructive engagement. He also highlighted that the country has undergone profound institutional and economic reforms over the last few years.
“Our goal is clear: to build a more diversified, inclusive, and future-ready economy – one where growth is not just sustained, but shared,” he said.
On a global scale, Tokayev reiterated that vital decisions cannot be made by a handful of nations alone, urging for structural reform of the UN system. According to him, major powers need to reaffirm their commitment to maintaining peace and security, along with the core principle of respecting the territorial integrity of all nations.
Kazakhstan supports the expansion of the UN Security Council, including broader regional representation. Its structural reform is essential to ensure that the UN remains relevant and truly reflects the world as it is, not as it was,” he added.
Participants gathered in Astana from around the world bring diverse perspectives shaped by different values. According to President Tokayev, this intellectual diversity was a key reason for holding the forum. He noted that the future could take many paths—promising or risky—but that inclusive progress would depend on broad cooperation, not just the words of a few. He added that the AIF 2025 was established to foster such cooperation through mutual respect and open dialogue..
“The theme of this year – Connecting Minds, Shaping the Future, is both a call and conviction. It reflects our belief that global challenges cannot be solved in isolation, and that diplomacy must evolve beyond formal protocols into deeper, more human forms of connection,” he concluded.
Voices from global leaders: calls for financial reform, security, and democracy
The plenary session continued with speeches from several distinguished global leaders. Among them were Paul Kagame, president of Rwanda; Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, president of North Macedonia; Qu Dongyu, director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); Alain Berset, secretary general of the Council of Europe; and Ban Ki-moon, president and chair of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and eighth secretary-general of the United Nations.
