It is a privilege to join you today, and I thank President Tokayev for his gracious invitation.

Kazakhstan’s prosperity is a reflection of its bold leadership, and the resilience of the Kazakh people.

This forum has become a vital platform, not only for dialogue, but for pragmatic cooperation in a world that is increasingly fragmented.

This year’s focus rightly underscores that global challenges are deeply interconnected, and our responses must be just as integrated.

This calls for a shift in the way we approach foreign policy and international cooperation.

In Rwanda, we have learned that external alignment, without internal stability, only deepens our vulnerabilities.

Our priority is therefore focused on what delivers real and measurable benefits to our people.

This includes prioritizing peace and security, strengthening economic self-reliance, and accelerating regional integration.

Our engagements with international partners are grounded in mutual respect and reciprocity, not dependency.

This is the principle that should apply to the global economy, and how it functions.

The Covid pandemic exposed how fragile and unequal our financial systems have become.

Since then, many developing countries remain trapped between rising debt, shrinking fiscal space, and harsh borrowing terms.

There has been much talk of reforming the global financial architecture, so that it is fit-for-purpose.

But the problem we have is not just structural, it is political. The rules of the system are quite often enforced unequally.

At the same time, the criteria for assessing financial risk are based on outdated assumptions that disadvantage countries in the South.

This restricts access to capital, increases costs, and delays progress.

But while we push for change, we must also act with greater urgency to build resilience from within.

That means managing our resources more effectively, enhancing industrial productivity, and investing in human capital development.

It is encouraging to see the renewed momentum behind South-South cooperation, including between Africa and Central Asia.

This is not an alternative to global engagement, but a necessary complement that provides a stronger collective voice on issues that affect us all.

We thank Kazakhstan for opening this space, and Rwanda stands ready to do its part.

I thank you.