Құрметті Қасым-Жомарт Кемелұлы, мәртебелі меймандар, ханымдар мен мырзалар!
Азия Кеңесінің су жаңа штаб-пәтеріне қош келдіңіздер!
Ең алдымен, Азия Кеңесінің дербес ғимараты болуы тиіс деген шешім қабылдап, бұл көрікті сарайды салғызуды тапсырғаныңыз үшін Сізге, Жоғары Мәртебелі Президент мырза, шынайы алғысымды білдіремін. Сіздің Азия Кеңесінің жарқын болашағына деген нық сеніміңіз, Хатшылыққа көрсетіп жатқан жан-жақты қолдауыңыз біздің ұжымымызды жаңа белестерді бағындыруға ерекше ынталандырады.
Distinguished Mr. President, Excellencies, dear guests!
I would like to start by expressing my utmost gratitude to H.E. President of the Republic of Kazakhstan – CICA’s Host Country – for taking time out of his very busy schedule to personally inaugurate the new Headquarters. It is quite symbolic that this historic event for CICA is taking place on July 2 –Kazakhstan’s Diplomatic Service Day, so please accept my sincere congratulations on this holiday. We all know and cherish the fact, Mr. President, that you stood at the origins of the diplomacy of independent Kazakhstan, and particularly, that you led the negotiation process leading to the adoption of the founding CICA documents – the Declaration on the Principles of 1999 and the Almaty Act of 2002.
Furthermore, I am grateful to the Kazakh Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their continuous financial and personnel support to the CICA Secretariat for almost two decades since its establishment.
Let me sincerely thank the Members of the Kazakh Parliament for ratifying the amendments to the Host Country Agreement that have been recently signed into law by the President.
My special thanks go to the Presidential Affairs Department of Kazakhstan and the Akim of Astana for supporting this endeavour since day one.
I would also like to thank the construction company – Sensata – for finishing the construction as scheduled and for accommodating our needs.
Last but not least, I am grateful to my dear colleagues from the Secretariat for coordinating and facilitating this whole process on a daily basis.
Thank you all for joining us, as we celebrate this historic moment!
Mr. President, dear guests!
Just a year ago, we gathered at this spot to mark the beginning of the construction by laying the foundation stone.
As I noted before, the new building is meant to display the Asian vibe by reflecting the diverse cultures of our continent. So, we are honoured to see various Member States enrich the new Headquarters with works of their national art or handicrafts.
In particular, I would like to express my gratitude to Azerbaijan for its contribution to the interior design by decorating the Visitors Room.
I am sincerely grateful to H.E. President Ilham Aliyev and his highly qualified team for their proactive leadership within CICA as its Chair and for rendering financial and personnel support to the Secretariat. We are expecting another big piece of art to be placed on the premises later this year.
Mr. President, I am also sincerely grateful to your distinguished colleagues – H.E.President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, H.E. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan and H.E. President Sadyr Zhaparov of Kyrgystan – for donating their outstanding pieces of folk art.
In particular, the massive gate to this main hall was hand carved by the Tajik masters from Istaravshan. The gorgeous gazebo in our Asia Park outside the building was crafted by masters inspired by the rich traditions of Samarkand. The beautiful yurt was hand made and decorated by a renowned Kyrgyz master, displaying the distinctive lifestyle of nomads.
The People’s Republic of China has donated a sculpture resembling CICA’s logo. Moreover, with its cutting-edge green technologies, China has supplied us with solar panels.
Türkiye donated a handcrafted İznik ceramic tile panel portraying the beauties of Istanbul.
The Republic of Korea has contributed a nice statue of the Pensive Bodhisattva while India has donated a marvelous statue of Nataraj to enrich the interior of the building.
Thus, let me reiterate my sincere gratitude to the CICA Member States who have already contributed or intend to contribute to this Temple of Asian Diplomacy.
Ladies and gentlemen!
The new Headquarters means not only providing infrastructure for the operation of its multiple bodies. It means maintaining CICA’s institutional memory reflecting our shared 33-year legacy. Ultimately, the building will embody CICA itself as a full-fledged international organization committed to dialogue and cooperation in Asia and beyond.
I thank you and have the honour to give the floor to the distinguished President of the Republic of Kazakhstan for his keynote speech.
