Kazakhstan proposes regional declaration on responsible AI use

Kazakhstan has formally proposed the creation of a regional declaration focused on the responsible use of artificial intelligence, alongside a broader push to tighten oversight of critical digital technologies across Central Asia and Azerbaijan. The proposal was introduced during the 8th Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and Azerbaijan, which convened in the Turkmen coastal city of Avaza in Turkmenistan.

According to coverage from APA, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev told assembled regional leaders that governments must begin jointly developing frameworks to ensure strict control over critical technologies. The initiative arrives as regional authorities grow increasingly concerned over the exploitation of digital tools by criminal syndicates, including drug cartels and terrorist organizations operating across borders.

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The call for digital guardrails forms part of a wider technological strategy. As reported by the official Akorda presidential service, Kazakhstan has already established domestic measures including national artificial intelligence legislation, the Digital Qazaqstan strategy, supercomputer clusters, and the Alem.ai international center. To scale these efforts across borders, Tokayev urged the creation of a Central Asian Partnership Program on Artificial Intelligence designed to connect research institutions, universities, and technology firms.

Economic and transport integration dominated much of the agenda at the Avaza summit. Outlining the current economic baseline, Tokayev noted that intraregional trade amounted to approximately 13 billion US dollars, which represents roughly 8% of the participating countries' total trade turnover. To capture untapped market potential, he tasked government ministries with drafting a joint action plan to elevate trade volume to at least 20 billion dollars.

Infrastructure development is slated to support this commercial expansion. Arzuw news reported that World Bank estimates project Caspian Sea cargo flows could quadruple by 2040 if all planned regional infrastructure projects reach completion. Connectivity projects highlighted during the summit include the Moiynty–Kyzylzhar and Darbaza–Maktaaral railway corridors, the upcoming Bakhty–Ayagoz rail link, and the ambitious Aral–Caspian Highway designed to link China directly to the Caspian Sea and onward to European markets.

Water security and climate resilience also claimed a central role in the discussions. Tokayev highlighted transboundary water management as a core stability challenge, advocating for a Central Asian Framework Convention on Water Use and backing the establishment of an International Water Organization under United Nations auspices.

Security cooperation against transnational threats—such as arms trafficking, human smuggling, and illicit migration—remains a pillar of the consultative framework. Leaders reviewed mechanisms established by Security Council secretaries, referencing risk prevention catalogues adopted in previous summits.

Beyond economics and security, the summit addressed humanitarian cooperation and cultural diplomacy. Proposals included establishing a regional television channel utilizing the Silk Way Kazakhstan TV channel, creating a unified calendar for cultural, scientific, and sporting events, and organizing a youth volunteer forum in 2027 under the banner "Central Asia – a Common Territory of Good Deeds."

Closing the plenary session, Tokayev cautioned against bureaucratic stagnation within the consultative framework. Pointing out that only a small proportion of the more than 200 initiatives introduced since 2018 have been successfully implemented, he instructed foreign policy agencies to audit past proposals to ensure practical viability.

The summit concluded with the formal adoption of a Joint Statement by the heads of state of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, setting the stage for future implementation phases under upcoming rotating chairmanships.