The Astana International Forum, a new discussion platform for addressing global issues, will be held in the capital of Kazakhstan on June 8-9 this year, QazMonitor reports.
The format of the dialogue takes after the Astana Economic Forum and was established in response to present-day global challenges, giving priority to cooperation as a basic tenet of a functioning international system.
The platform was conceptualized to tackle a few topics – foreign policy, security and sustainability, energy and climate, and economy and finance.
This year, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is expected to be the keynote speaker and chair of the forum.
“Today, across the globe we face historic challenges, the likes of which we have not encountered for decades or longer. These challenges are putting unprecedented pressure on the international community, creating new dividing lines and challenging the principles of globalization and multilateralism,” said President Tokayev.
According to him, Kazakhstan serves as the bridge between East and West and the country plays an important role in fostering cooperation between nations.
[Through the forum] we hope to build new bridges and strengthen ties, as we come together to overcome the collective challenges we face, charting a new way forward – diplomatically, economically and politically.
The program will include keynote speeches, panel sessions and discussions, and other side events. Registration is open on the forum’s official website.