QAZAQ GREEN.  President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev joined the «Voice of Global South» virtual summit held under the theme «Unity of Voice, Unity of Purpose» upon Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation, the presidential press service reports.

As a priority task, President Tokayev called on all countries to focus their efforts on achieving the SDGs.

“Therefore, we consider it important to establish the United Nations (UN) Regional Center on SDGs for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Kazakhstan. Such a center will ensure the most effective coordination of the UN project activities in the region,” said Tokayev.

The President said that Kazakhstan intends to continue to use its agricultural potential to combat global food shortages. He supported Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to depoliticize the global supply of food, fertilizers, and medical products, saying that international trade in food and fertilizers should not be subject to sanctions or other restrictions.

According to him, a reliable and diversified global transit and transport infrastructure is particularly important in the current geopolitical situation. Tokayev also said that Kazakhstan would continue its efforts in diversifying transport routes, including the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor.

Tokayev also spoke on climate change and water security.

He noted that temperatures in Central Asia are rising faster than the global average. Over the last few years five countries in the Central Asian region had experienced severe droughts. In his view, climate change requires greater international cooperation and solidarity.

More than five billion people may face a shortage of drinking water due to climate change, according to the UN report. Water scarcity and growing instability have a negative impact on the food, energy, and environmental security of states, the President said.

“On these grounds, I propose introducing a system of exclusive rights and preferences for transferring water technologies, which will contribute to rational and equitable use of water resources,” said Tokayev.

India’s Voice of Global South summit on Jan. 12-13 brought together over 120 government representatives from Asia, Africa, and Latin America.