At the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and Azerbaijan, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined the key security threats facing the region, infohub.kz reports.
According to the Akorda press service, Tokayev emphasized that amid global turbulence, preserving peace and stability in the region remains the paramount task.
"Terrorism, the drug trade, arms and human trafficking, illegal migration, organized crime, and fraud continue to pose serious security threats. Of particular concern is the risk of digital technologies falling into the hands of malicious actors, particularly terrorists and drug cartels. It is clear that our countermeasures must also keep pace with the times. Regular meetings of the security secretaries of Central Asian states make a significant contribution to strengthening cooperation in this area. The third meeting was held on April 23-24 in Dushanbe. We highly appreciate the Concept of Regional Security and Stability adopted last year in Tashkent, as well as the Catalog of Security Risks and Measures to Prevent Them. It is important to ensure their consistent and comprehensive implementation," the president said.
A significant portion of Tokayev's speech was devoted to strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties. According to him, the countries of the region share a rich historical and cultural heritage.
"In recent years, intercultural contacts have intensified significantly: exhibitions, film festivals, forums, and commemorative events are being held. I believe it is necessary to give this process additional impetus through youth exchanges, inter-university and scientific cooperation, and dialogue among the creative intelligentsia. The formation of a common information space is a natural continuation of deepening ties. As you know, Kazakhstan has put forward an initiative to create a regional television channel based on the Kazakh channel Silk Way," the head of state proposed.
What else Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and Azerbaijan, held in Turkmenistan, can be read here.