Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov took part in the regular meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Independent States, held in Moscow (Russian Federation). 

In his speech, the head of government noted that Kazakhstan is interested in further joint work on the CIS platform to deepen integration ties and fill it with new practical content. 

"The priorities put forward by the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the last meeting of the Council of Heads of State are designed to intensify cooperation in the CIS format. First of all to overcome emerging challenges, to find new areas for strengthening productive partnership," Alikhan Smailov said. 

Thus, one of the key areas of joint work in the coming year will be cooperation to expand cultural and humanitarian ties, as well as cooperation in the spheres of health care, education and sports.

Prime Minister noted that Kazakhstan welcomes the announcement of 2024 in the CIS Year of Volunteer Movement. 

"Today, thanks to their selfless deeds, volunteers of the Commonwealth countries continue to make a significant contribution to the development of a tolerant society, maintenance of the culture of mercy and kindness. I urge the CIS states to start practical work on the implementation of Kazakhstan's initiative to establish an annual Volunteers Forum and give it the status of a permanent platform of the Organization," he said. 

Speaking about deepening cooperation in the field of health care, Alikhan Smailov emphasized the importance of the work carried out in the field of physical culture and sports.

A serious achievement in this direction is the creation this year of the organizational and legal basis for the CIS Spartakiads among children with disabilities and CIS championships. 

"Kazakhstan supports this work and plans to take an active part in the upcoming competitions," he said. 

According to him, another important area of cooperation is to provide quality and affordable medical care to citizens of the Commonwealth. 

"The mechanisms of cooperation in the field of health care developed within the CIS helped to overcome the large-scale coronavirus pandemic. At the same time, our countries are now once again facing mass diseases, among which the measles outbreak should be emphasized. In this regard, we call for the activation of all available mechanisms of cooperation in the CIS, including the Council for Cooperation in the field of health care," Prime Minister said.

He added that Kazakhstan with the support of the World Health Organization proposed to create a Coalition of countries on primary health care. 

"It will allow to promote the principles of prevention and health protection, to develop joint recommendations," Alikhan Smailov emphasized. 

In conclusion, the Prime Minister noted that common approaches of the CIS countries to develop multifaceted cooperation in the field of culture are reflected in the draft Statement on the prospects of cultural cooperation.

#Alikhan Smailov #The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan #Education #Healthcare #Sports