Your Excellency Minister Qydyrali, Distinguished colleagues, dear volunteers,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Representing the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, I am delighted to welcome all esteemed guests and participants to the International Volunteer Forum. Today, we gather here to celebrate the spirit of volunteerism and its profound impact on our societies.
Just a year ago, during the Sixth CICA Summit chaired by Kazakhstan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed a significant initiative to hold a Rally of the Volunteer Movement Leaders of the CICA Countries under the auspices of the Youth Council in 2024 in Astana. We have already commenced our efforts to implement this noble initiative, as demonstrated by the panel session taking place today as part of our preparatory activities for the Rally.
Volunteering is often regarded as a state of mind and heart, a testament to nobility and culture. It is no coincidence that many countries with strong humanitarian values prioritize the development of volunteering as a long-term objective.
The Asian region is no exception in this regard, with the 28 member states of CICA hosting numerous volunteer organizations, associations and movements that work in close coordination. This reaffirms the significance of strengthening multilateral interaction in the social, cultural, and humanitarian spheres, as well as promoting inter-civilizational dialogue and people-to-people contacts within CICA, as highlighted by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin during the Summit in Astana.
In line with this, CICA warmly welcomes the initiative to adopt a ministerial statement in 2023 on promoting volunteerism for sustainable development. The CICA member states, with the assistance of the Secretariat, are currently undertaking appropriate measures to finalize the draft ministerial statement for adoption by the CICA Foreign Ministers.
In conclusion, I would like to extend my best wishes to all participants of the Forum for productive work and success in discovering new avenues for the cooperation and development of volunteering. Together, let us promote a culture of volunteering that strengthens our societies while fostering understanding, empathy, and peace.
Thank you for your attention!
Astana, 20 June 2023
