The foreign ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states issued a joint statement on June 30, expressing strong support for the recent establishment of a United Nations Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The ministers welcomed the adoption of UN General Assembly Resolution A/79/L.57/Rev.1 on March 4, 2025, which formalized the creation of the center.  The initiative aims to enhance regional cooperation and accelerate progress toward the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across Central Asia and Afghanistan.

Reaffirming their commitment to international law and the principles of the UN Charter, the CSTO member states emphasized their shared interest in fostering regional cooperation, good neighborly relations, and sustainable development.

The ministers also voiced their commitment to supporting Afghanistan’s stabilization and development, stressing the UN’s central coordinating role in these efforts.  They called on the international community to increase humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people and help facilitate the country’s peaceful transformation.

According to the statement, the new UN Regional Center is expected to strengthen collaboration across the Eurasian space and enhance coordination within the UN development system.  It aims to support targeted projects and tackle priority socio-economic challenges in the region.

The CSTO foreign ministers expressed confidence that the center will contribute to the effective implementation of the Program of Action for the Landlocked Developing Countries.  They also highlighted the importance of ongoing reforms to the UN development system, spearheaded by the UN Secretary-General, to better support member states in achieving the SDGs.

The statement concluded with a reaffirmation of the CSTO’s readiness to leverage the full potential of the new regional center in advancing sustainable development objectives across Central Asia and Afghanistan.