Astana, Kazakhstan – 30 April 2024 – The Secretariat of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), with support of local municipal authorities of the city of Astana, held its traditional beautification of the CICA Alley at the Astana Presidential Park.
The event was attended by the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan Yerlan Nyssanbayev, Deputy Mayor of Astana Yersin Otebayev, as well as Ambassadors of CICA Member States and other representatives of diplomatic corps.
This year, the guests of the event planted 35 small-leaved elm trees kindly provided by the Akimat of Astana, adding to the 100 trees of Sakura, Mountain-ash, and Sievers apple already planted at the CICA Alley.
In his speech, Minister Nyssanbayev stated, “These efforts significantly contribute not only to the conservation of Kazakhstan’s natural resources, but also lead to an improvement in the quality of life of the local population and the creation of more favorable conditions for future generations.” He highlighted that the Ministry is inclined to strengthen cooperation by developing multilateral approaches to respecting the environment, ensuring peace and stability in Asia.
Mr. Yersin Otebayev, representing the local authorities of Astana, emphasized the city's commitment to environmental sustainability, highlighting initiatives like the CICA Alley beautification in enhancing green spaces and fostering cooperation among nations towards environment conservation.
The Secretary General of CICA extended heartfelt thanks to all attendees, including the diplomatic corps, for their active participation, underscoring their dedication to upholding the spirit of CICA through such impactful events.
Ambassador Kairat Sarybay emphasized the growing significance of cooperation within CICA's environmental dimension, citing President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's initiative to convene the CICA Ministerial Conference on Environmental Issues as a prime example. He noted that the upcoming CICA Ministerial Council meeting, chaired by Azerbaijan, coincides with the commencement of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku in November 2024, further highlighting the relevance and timeliness of collaborative efforts in addressing environmental challenges.
Inaugurated on 1 June 2021 in the lead-up to the 30th anniversary of CICA, the Alley aligns with the main objectives of the Organization within its environmental dimension, aiming to contribute to our collective efforts towards fostering the Sustainable Development Goals.
