President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at a meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the CIS in Turkmenistan proposed developing a Strategy for the Development of the Commonwealth until 2035. Among other initiatives — the formation of a portfolio of joint industrial and technological projects for 2027–2030, the expansion of cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence and the creation of a common digital library of literature of the peoples of the CIS.
WHAT TASKS TOKAYEV OUTLINED FOR THE CIS
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's speech took place at the summit at the Avaza complex in Turkmenistan. The Head of State noted that in the year of the 35th anniversary of the CIS, the countries need to determine long-term priorities for cooperation and adapt interaction to changing international conditions.
The President proposed combining existing sectoral programmes and documents into a single system. To this end, the CIS Executive Committee, together with the governments of the member states, should begin developing a strategy until 2035.
"It is important to focus on priorities of fundamental importance for our states — these are the economy, energy, infrastructure, high technology, human capital," Tokayev said.
KAZAKHSTAN PROPOSED EXPANDING INDUSTRIAL COOPERATION
The President paid particular attention to economic ties between the countries of the Commonwealth. According to him, the CIS markets account for more than a quarter of Kazakhstan's foreign trade turnover. By the end of 2025, this figure amounted to about $40 billion, and over the seven months of 2026 it grew by 10%.
Tokayev also proposed forming a Portfolio of flagship industrial and technological projects of the CIS for 2027–2030. In his opinion, joint initiatives should be focused on producing goods with high added value.
As examples of existing cooperation, the President cited 178 industrial projects and initiatives involving Russia with a total value of $61 billion, of which 124 have already been implemented. With Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan is working on 80 projects worth about $2 billion.
"Now we must fulfil the task of unlocking the existing potential, in other words, reducing unjustified, artificially created barriers in mutual trade, expanding the services market, creating favourable conditions for mutual investment," noted the Head of State.
WHAT INITIATIVES WERE PROPOSED IN THE FIELD OF TRANSPORT AND AI
Tokayev named the development of transport corridors and transit potential as another area of cooperation. Kazakhstan considers the North–South, Western China–Western Europe and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route to be priority routes.
The President also announced the start in August of the construction of a new Aral-Caspian highway with a length of more than 1,500 km. According to him, after the facility is put into operation, the road route from China to Europe will be shortened by approximately 1,000 km, and the delivery time for transit cargo — to three days.
In the technological sphere, Kazakhstan proposed establishing an exchange of experience in the field of artificial intelligence, including government strategies, legislation and support measures. In addition, Tokayev advocated holding in the first quarter of 2027 in Astana a specialised forum on AI under the auspices of the CIS.
WHAT HUMANITARIAN PROJECTS THE PRESIDENT PROPOSED
In the humanitarian sphere, Tokayev proposed creating a "Golden Library Fund of the CIS", including in it outstanding literary works of the peoples of the Commonwealth. The initiative provides for professional translations and the creation of a publicly accessible digital library.
On Kazakhstan's proposal, a statement by the heads of state of the CIS on the development of cooperation in the field of culture was also adopted and the CIS Volunteer Forum was established, which was held for the first time in Astana in August of this year.
At the end of his speech, the President of Kazakhstan supported the upcoming chairmanship of Uzbekistan in the CIS in 2027 and proposed holding the first summit in the "CIS plus" format to expand international interaction.
