An international forum organized on the initiative of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, begins today in Astana, reports the “Kazakhstanskaya Pravda” online publication.

The general theme of the first Astana International Forum (AIF) is “Overcoming challenges through dialogue: along the path of cooperation, development and progress”. Its concept was developed to discuss and solve various challenges and problems on several key global topics - foreign policy and international security, sustainable development, energy and climate change, economics and finance.

The AIF program includes more than 40 events, including a large plenary session, many panel discussions, special sessions and a number of satellite events (side events) that will be held under the auspices of the forum, but not within the framework of the main program.

Among the speakers of the Forum are the first persons of states, governments and international organizations, politicians, scientists, economists and experts of world renown.

According to the source, among the distinguished guests are Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zeljka Cvijanovic, OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva, Director General of UNESCO Odre Azule, UN Under-Secretary-General, Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Armida Alisjahbana, Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov and others.

“Through the Astana International Forum, we hope to build new bridges and strengthen ties, uniting to overcome the collective challenges we face, charting a new path forward - diplomatic, economic and political”, - President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined the general concept and goals of the Astana International Forum.