President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, at a ceremony honouring media workers, noted that journalists play a key role in explaining state policy.
According to the Akorda press service, the head of state recalled how at a meeting of the National Kurultai in Atyrau, he spoke about the fundamental values important for shaping a new quality of the nation.
In his opinion, entrenching these values in public consciousness depends directly on journalists - without media representatives, it is impossible to convey them to the public.
At the same time, the President spoke about the recently signed Law on Mass Media, which aims to protect the rights and interests of journalists.
"I am convinced that this document will enhance the potential of our domestic mass media and strengthen information independence", the statement reads.
He also noted that members of parliament and the media are currently working cohesively. According to Tokayev, there are many representatives from the information sphere within the Presidential Administration and among parliamentarians.
Furthermore, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated that one of the most important missions of the media is to inform citizens about economic development.
"There is fierce global competition for investment, without which it is difficult to ensure sustainable economic growth. Thanks to the state's consistent work in this direction, Kazakhstan's investment attractiveness has been growing in recent years. Tens, even hundreds, of capital-intensive projects are being implemented in the country with the participation of foreign investors, aimed at diversifying the economy and creating new jobs", the President reported.
As an example, he cited an upcoming project in the Almaty region, within the framework of which a plant for the globally renowned company PepsiCo is planned to open in 2026. It is expected to become the largest such enterprise in Central Asia.
It was also reported that in Shymkent, this year, in collaboration with Turkish partners, the first phase of construction of a large greenhouse complex is expected to be completed.
Additionally, the head of state spoke about an agreement reached with Chinese colleagues regarding the construction of a copper smelter in the Abai Region with a capacity of 300,000 tonnes of copper per year. According to him, the project, with a preliminary cost of $1.5 billion, will create more than a thousand new jobs.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also noted that journalists, besides negative news, should also see and be able to cover positive information.
"I believe that the task of the media, especially state media, is nevertheless to pay attention to the positive aspects of our development <…> We must not engage in self-deception and self-praise – that is a path to decay and degradation. At the same time, within the framework of freedom of speech, one cannot constantly escalate the situation, saying that, supposedly, nothing is changing in the country, everything is bad. This is simply not true. There are shortcomings, but things are not so bad. Such an information background does not help people but, on the contrary, plunges them into depression and generates apathy in society", the statement reads.
The President expressed hope that domestic media will always maintain objectivity and impartiality, and place the interests of the country and society above all else.
"Many do not yet realise it, but Kazakhstan has long been living in a new political reality. And this new reality, among other things, is expressed in freedom of speech, open competition, constructive dialogue between the authorities and society, and the accessibility of all information resources. We can confidently speak about this as an accomplished fact of change. In such realities, the role and responsibility of the media only increase", Kassym-Jomart Tokayev believes.
The President stated that intensive work is underway in the country to combat corruption.
"Media reports are full of stories about the detention of officials. And sometimes we even speak to our detriment, because among our citizens, and abroad, the impression is created that Kazakhstan is an utterly corrupt country. This does not correspond to the real state of affairs, although the problem exists – we acknowledge this", Tokayev declared.
Furthermore, the head of state reminded that disseminating information that misleads citizens is unacceptable. He stated that freedom of speech does not mean criticising everything happening in the country. According to him, the media that truly serve the nation's interests should contribute to strengthening unity.