Sure! Here’s the translation to American English:
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The recent inauguration of the United Nations Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Almaty, Kazakhstan, marks a significant advance in development cooperation in Central Asia and Afghanistan. During the ceremony, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that this center symbolizes the beginning of a new era of collaboration focused on common priorities and integrated solutions that promote greater economic integration in the region.
In his speech, Guterres expressed gratitude to the President of Kazakhstan and its people, referring to the historical importance of Almaty as a point of connection between East and West. He highlighted that the new center will serve as a space for regional cooperation, a laboratory for ideas, and a platform for the implementation of effective actions.
In his remarks, the Secretary-General addressed the multiple challenges facing Central Asia, including climate change, water scarcity, youth unemployment, gender inequality, and the digital divide. He stated that climate change is already having adverse effects in the region, such as glacial melting and the desiccation of the Aral Sea, factors that exacerbate the environmental vulnerability of the countries. Furthermore, he warned that trade tensions and global economic uncertainty only increase these risks, also highlighting that the geography of the region presents additional obstacles to trade and access to markets and financing.
Ahead of the upcoming Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, which will be held in Turkmenistan, Guterres underscored the relevance of the new center in implementing an action program that enables the states in the region to advance despite geographic constraints.
Additionally, the Secretary-General called attention to the situation in Afghanistan, where the population faces serious issues of poverty and humanitarian crises, exacerbated by natural disasters and climate challenges. He assured that the new Center will work in collaboration with local and international partners to promote sustainable development in the country, always respecting human rights and ensuring the rights of women and girls, with a focus on economic self-sufficiency and peace.
In concluding his speech, Guterres expressed confidence that the new center will act as a catalyst for change in Central Asia and Afghanistan, reaffirming the United Nations’ commitment to support this mission of collaboration and progress.
via: MiMub in Spanish