Statement by H.E. Mr. K.K. Tokaev, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, at the 60th ESCAP session
(April 27 2004, Shanghai).

Distinguished Mr. Chairman,
Distinguished Mr. Executive Secretary,
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

The agenda of the present session in the context of an increasing interdependence of the contemporary world is very important and timely. Throughout its history mankind has never been so closely united in pursuit of common interests and values as in the face of new global threats and challenges. At present there is not a single state in the world that can feel secure facing such challenges and threats like poverty, drug trafficking, human trafficking, illegal migration and international terrorism.

One of the responses to these dangerous challenges must be the development of regional cooperation based on our mutual desire to achieve economic prosperity.

In this context the significance of ESCAP as an international forum for open dialogue and an important mechanism of interstate cooperation promoting economic development of the whole Asian-Pacific region is unique.

The most important task at present is to search for optimum ways to manage the globalization process by using different instruments of regional cooperation.Our joint efforts must be aimed at allowing countries of the region to use the benefits and opportunities of globalization and minimize its negative consequences.

Mr. Chairman,

We are convinced that there is no alternative to the processes of regional cooperation. At the same time the only way to combat the existing challenges is to develop national economies, to create jobs and pursue structural and institutional reforms. The economic growth Kazakhstan has been demonstrating in the recent years is among the most advanced and stable in the world. Over the last four years the GDP of our country grew by more than 50 percent.

Kazakhstan is one of the first CIS countries to start working out long term social and economic development programmes aimed at raising the living standard and quality of life of our people to the level up of the developed countries of the world. Last year Kazakhstan launched a programme of advanced industrial development of the country till the year 2015 aimed at diversification of its economy and modernization of its industry.

Being strongly committed to the regional cooperation we intend to further assist the creation of a Unified Economic Area embracing the territory of the four largest CIS states, as well as the activities of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and the Central Asian Organization for Cooperation.

We regard our forthcoming accession to the World Trade Organization as a top priority and one of the most important goals.

Mr. Chairman,

The nature of the ESCAP mission, particularly as it relates to the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals and resolutions of the recent global fora, prompts the necessity of a more active participation of all its member states in addressing social and economic problems of the region and in developing regional cooperation.

Of special importance is the activity of the Commission related to the development of a Eurasian transport facility that must become an important source of cooperation and economic growth. The ESCAP Asian Road, Trans-Asian Railroad and sub-regional transport corridors have formed a comprehensive network of transport infrastructure for the development of international transportation in the Silk Road region.

Transport problems must not impede regional trade. We address challenge by establishing a new system of transport links. We are convinced that the geographic position of Kazakhstan and the level of development of its transportation network make it possible for us to make our own contribution to the solution of this problem. We have plans to build a new railroad which is supposed to link up China, Kazakhstan, the countries of the Persian Gulf and Europe.

At the same time the Government of Kazakhstan wants to implement another ambitious plan of creating a chain of the seaports on the Caspian Sea which is extremely rich in terms of oil and gas deposits.

In general Kazakhstan has a unique opportunity to provide transit transport facilities for a number of countries of Asia and Europe.

Transit transport is of special significance for land-locked countries. Kazakhstan being one of such countries hosted the UN International Conference on this issue.

The Almaty Programme of Action and Almaty Declaration adopted at this conference have become historical documents. They include comprehensive recommendations to enhance cooperation in the field of transit transportation aimed to provide for active participation of land-locked and transit countries in the world commercial and economic system.

I would like to emphasize a leading role played by the ESCAP in the implementation of the UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia aimed at enhancing their mutual cooperation, promoting their economic development and integration into the world economy.

We are convinced that special attention must be paid to regional initiatives in such an important area like finance including the establishment of the Asian securities market in order to create a full-fledged regional mechanism integrated into the world financial system to mobilize internal and international resources for funding development goals. Kazakhstan supports the decisions and the Plan of Action of the World Summit on information society and bridging digital gaps. We welcome the creation of the Department of Information, Communication and Space Technologies in the ESCAP Secretariat and express our readiness to carry out joint projects in ICT.

The development and implementation of the ESCAP environmental programmes is of great significance for Kazakhstan. Present situation in the Aral Sea and at the former Semipalatinsk nuclear test-site poses a threat not only to the people of Central Asia but also to neighboring regions thus becoming a disaster of global dimension.

Kazakhstan supports ESCAP restructuring within the framework of the UN reform process. We believe that a dialogue between different sub-regional trade and financial organizations, in particular OEC, ASEAN and SAARC, aimed at developing regional and sub-regional cooperation can be carried out under the ESCAP auspices.

Since the date of its creation in Shanghai ESCAP has become an important mechanism of regional interaction uniting the countries in their striving for peace and stability based on mutually beneficial cooperation.

Let me wish all the member - countries sustainable economic development and the Commission a successful implementation of its goals.

Thank you for your attention.