Organized by the Yusof Ishak Institute (ISEAS) since the 1980s, the Singapore Lectures provide a unique opportunity for academics, political scientists, diplomats and young scholars to hear first-hand the views of heads of state and prominent global politicians.
Welcoming the participants of the event, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted that Singapore left a special mark on his biography.
“I served here as a young diplomat many decades ago and am thrilled to be back again to see first-hand how your country continues to make great strides. Indeed, Singapore's remarkable economic transformation under the visionary leadership of its founding father Lee Kuan Yew has become a shining example of successful nation-building and economic growth. Your country inspires Kazakhstan to choose its own path to progress and prosperity. Of course, the invaluable experience that I gained during my stay in Singapore influenced my vision of the future of Kazakhstan in this rapidly changing world,” the president emphasized.
Speaking about socio-political transformations in our country, the head of state drew attention to the similarity of the goals and principles of the “Fair Kazakhstan” program with the “Forward Singapore” program, which was initiated by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
“These documents place society at the center of all changes and assume that the fruits of progress should be felt by every citizen. Large-scale national transformation is a complex process, but no matter how difficult it is, we will not deviate from this strategic path. Last year our economy grew by 5.1%. We intend to double GDP to $450 billion by 2029. To achieve this ambitious goal, we must achieve 6% annual growth by creating a modern economy based on knowledge and innovation. We strive to strengthen our position as a trusted hub for business, finance, talent and innovation, much like Singapore,” the President said.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spoke about the investment policy and economic diversification pursued in Kazakhstan.
In his opinion, despite geographical distance and differences in territory and history, Kazakhstan and Singapore share many common values and face similar challenges.
“In January 2024, the German Institute for International and Security Affairs included Kazakhstan for the first time among the world’s middle powers. I am aware that Singaporeans prefer to talk about themselves as a small country. However, in my opinion, Singapore's financial and economic influence, strategic location on vital international shipping routes, and its ranking of 30th out of 145 countries in the 2024 Global Firepower survey demonstrate that your country has a superior position. “In addition, strategic thinking and effective diplomacy have turned Singapore into a connecting bridge between East and West,” the head of state noted.
Discussing the role of new middle powers such as Kazakhstan and Singapore, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev drew attention to significant changes in the global security landscape, opening up both significant opportunities and serious risks.
“We are facing many crises, from geopolitical tensions to macroeconomic difficulties to increasing climate disasters. The global security architecture is rapidly crumbling, and mutual mistrust between powers is deepening. It is clear that the “peace dividend” received after the Cold War is drying up. As global military spending rose to a record $2.2 trillion last year, leading to a new arms race. Despite all efforts, humanity is becoming a victim of new military conflicts. Challenges related to extremism and terrorism, cybernetics and space, artificial intelligence, climate change, large-scale migration and epidemics further exacerbate global security. However, Astana and Singapore, as emerging middle powers, cannot simply accept polarization and division. There's too much at stake. If measures are not taken, we will plunge into a new cold war,” the president believes.
The head of state stated that our country, following the path of building a Just Kazakhstan, is firmly committed to the principles and values of responsible diplomacy.
“All external partners, well understanding what Astana is calling for, see us as reliable and proven partners. We will remain open and connected to the world, promoting “Kazakhstan committed to globalization” - this is our country’s foreign policy. This is the only way we can thrive in this new era of prolonged uncertainty. As a result, we cannot afford to be complacent and passive. By remaining open to the world, we are vigilant and proactive in countering external challenges. We will never hesitate to protect Kazakhstan's legitimate rights and interests, let alone sacrifice our core interests. Sometimes our position is viewed with skepticism and criticized for being neutral. However, neutrality should not be mistaken for a lack of conviction. On the contrary, it is a conscious choice in favor of diplomacy and dialogue rather than conflict and coercion. This choice is our strength, allowing us to help overcome deep differences - from territorial disputes to ideological conflicts,” the president emphasized.
As an example, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev cited efforts to promote the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, mediation on the Iranian nuclear program, the Astana process to resolve the Syrian conflict, as well as the recent dispatch of the first independent peacekeeping contingent to the Golan Heights under a UN mission.
According to the head of our state, Singaporean diplomacy also makes a significant contribution to solving many global problems.
“Here we commend Singapore for hosting major summits, including the landmark meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou in 2015 and the historic summit between the United States and North Korea,” the president said.
At the same time, the head of state is convinced that no “good offices” for the peaceful settlement of disputes can replace an effectively functioning system of multilateral cooperation.
“We must prevent wars, not try to stop them. Decades ago, we greeted the post-Cold War era with hope and optimism, imagining a prosperous future. Today, however, that vision is clouded by looming threats and a pervasive sense of doom. Multilateral institutions should be revamped to restore their authority and breathe new life into multilateralism, starting with long-overdue UN reform. We will not succeed in meeting these challenges without comprehensive reform of the Security Council. This is the urgent need of our time, in the interests of the vast majority of humanity. I firmly believe that the voices of the middle powers and all developing countries in the Council must be amplified and clearly heard,” the president said.
Ahead of the UN Future Summit in September 2024, he called on the global community to consider a multilateral approach based on the principles of inclusion, inclusivity and inclusion.
“Kazakhstan’s commitment to a multilateral approach is unshakable. This year we are presiding over six international structures: the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Organization of Turkic States, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Islamic Organization for Food Security and the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea. It is no secret that there are major gaps in global governance. COVID-19 has shown that it is important for countries to “build bridges, not walls” to overcome common challenges. Perhaps the most destructive of them is the nuclear threat. Kazakhstan has suffered greatly from nuclear weapons testing, so we will continue our fight for a world free of nuclear arsenals,” the president said.
According to Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev, a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society is considered a strength of Kazakhstan and Singapore.
“Last September, I published an article in The Jerusalem Post entitled “Religious Leaders Can Help Bring World Peace.” A culture of peace can only be based on the principles of unity in diversity and mutual respect. In this sense, the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions under the leadership of Kazakhstan became a unique platform for developing dialogue and promoting common values. We welcome Singapore's initiative to host the International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS). In April 2022, I signed into law the Singapore Mediation Agreements Convention Ratification Act, which improves the efficiency of the cross-border recognition process and enforces mediation agreements,” the President said.
As the head of state emphasized, there are many other areas in which Kazakhstan and Singapore can closely cooperate. These include combating climate change, water management and efforts to address global food security.
“Kazakhstan’s initiative to open a Central Asian Project Office on climate change and green energy in Almaty could play a significant role in resolving these issues. We also plan to hold a Regional Climate Summit under the auspices of the UN in 2026. Water is the first to be affected by the climate crisis, while being one of its main causes. More than 2 billion people in the world do not have access to quality drinking water. I commend President Tharman Shanmugaratnam for his efforts as co-chair of the Global Commission on Water Conservation. We count on his valuable contribution to the work of the One Water Summit, which will be held this year at the initiative of Kazakhstan and France within the framework of the UN conference,” the president said.
The head of state also spoke about the role of Central Asia and ASEAN in international relations.
“By maintaining peaceful relations with all major powers, the countries of Central Asia have great opportunities. A young and energetic population, a growing middle class, rich natural and agricultural resources, and transit potential create a solid foundation for growth. When a region's economy develops dynamically, it also acquires strategic importance. The annual consultative meetings of the leaders of the countries of Central Asia, the Central Asian Nuclear Weapons Free Zone, and the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea testify to the region’s ability to cooperate independently. I invite all partners to look at our region through the prism of emerging opportunities. In my opinion, the concept of “overlapping circles of friends” that Singapore proposed to create a more open and inclusive regional architecture in the ASEAN space is quite relevant for Central Asia. That is why Central Asia took the initiative to create the C5+ cooperation format. We intend to work together with all interested parties to solve pressing regional problems,” the president noted.
Summing up his speech, the head of state called for strengthening partnerships based on mutual respect and common goals, and making common efforts to build a more peaceful and prosperous future for all.
At the end of the lecture, the head of state answered a number of questions regarding the resolution of geopolitical conflicts, ensuring international security, and the role of middle powers.
By the Kazakhstanskaya Pravda
