Focus on people’s prosperity key to sustainable development, says Kyrgyz leader at UN Assembly

Noting that the only source of power in his country is its people, the President of Kyrgyzstan highlighted that the country’s path to sustainable development has a focus on ensuring the Kyrgyz peoples welfare and prosperity.

Over the last five years, extreme poverty has fallen by 45 per cent, said Almazbek Atambaev, adding that system-wide efforts have been introduced to address corruption and that the country has embarked on major projects to improve infrastructure, achieve energy independence and create a stable energy sector.

“Kyrgyzstan is among the most free and stable in the Euro-Asian region and boasts a strong civil society,” he highlighted.

In his address to the 72nd annual general debate at the United Nations General Assembly, President Atambaev said Kyrgyzstan is elaborating a strategy for sustainable development through 2040, which is aimed at creating jobs, ensuring social well-being, raising living standards and promoting a parliamentary democracy with a strong civil society.

Turning to the challenges posed by climate change, he said that being a mountainous country, Kyrgyzstan is particularly prone to its effects, with all sectors feeling the impact. Calling the transition to sustainable development “a matter of survival,” the President said the protection of endangered wildlife, such as the snow leopard, is also critical.

Further in his remarks, the Kyrgyz President underscored that future prosperity is, in part, contingent on the effective use of scarce water resources, he urged for cooperation among countries to resolve any disputes.

In conclusion, he also drew attention to the increasing threat of terrorism and extremism and urged international collaboration and cooperation to combat the scourge, including through tackling the issue of money-laundering and drug trafficking.