Nazarbayev addresses Astana Club

    By Malika Orazgaliyeva
    Some of the world’s leading economic, political and international relations experts gathered in Astana on November 14-16 for the second Astana Club annual meeting to discuss the global economy and relations.
    The gathering was organized at the Nazarbayev Center by the Foundation of the First President of Kazakhstan – Leader of the Nation.
    President Nursultan Nazarbayev addressed experts from the United States, Russia, China, Turkey, Iran and the European Union about Kazakhstan’s role in global and regional issues, including nuclear disarmament, reported the Akorda press statement.
    The world needs new approaches to national, regional and global development, Nazarbayev said, noting conflicts destabilize global and regional security.
    He underlined prospects for cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and the European Union.
    “It is important to jointly determine a route for the creation of a common economic space of the Big Eurasia. In my view, such a perspective is unavoidable. The organizations such as the (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) the SCO, the EEU, the EU and the Silk Road Economic Belt project should deeply interact. This vector of continental and world development is impossible to ignore without damage to the progress, prosperity and security of each Eurasian nation. That is my principal position,” he said.
    Nazarbayev noted that emerging macro-regional trade associations, including the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, the Trans-Pacific Partnership and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership should target the creation of the single Eurasian trade and cooperation space.
    In addition, Nazarbayev outlined the importance of creating a world based on the principles of justice, trust, cooperation and universal responsibility.
    “Kazakhstan’s mission is to make our region of Central Asia a strong bridge with two-way traffic between East and West, between North and South. So that there is a territory of interaction and collaboration, a model of peace, trust and global security,” he said.
    “I am convinced that by the means of dialogue and negotiations, the world can solve any problems, overcome the contradictions and develop a common global development strategy for the entire 21^st Century,” Nazarbayev added.
    The president also answered questions concerning SCO development, rebuilding the Silk Road, nuclear disarmament, regional cooperation and economic diversification, the Astana Times reports.