AKIPRESS.COM - President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev met with Antonio Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General, in ​Astana on June 9, the Akorda said.

The Head of the State sincerely thanked the UN Secretary General for his participation in the work of the SCO Summit.

"For the first time in the history of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the UN Secretary-General participates in its work. Your participation coincided with the historic moment for the Organization - India and Pakistan’s joining the SCO. Thus, the Organization becomes a real political force not only on a regional scale," Nursultan Nazarbayev said.

The Head of the State has noted that Kazakhstan has always supported the UN principles and initiatives.

"You know that Kazakhstan is the leader of the anti-nuclear movement, and August 29 was declared the International Day against Nuclear Tests. I instituted the Kazakhstan Prize for a world without nuclear weapons and global security. The first winner of this international award is Abdullah II, the King of Jordan," the President of Kazakhstan said.

The UN Secretary-General congratulated Nursultan Nazarbayev on holding the SCO summit, taking into account the admission of two new members - India and Pakistan.

"Today I have come to the Summit with a clear understanding and awareness that the SCO is gradually becoming the center of gravity all over the world. This Organization, in my opinion, is an important foundation of today's world order. I believe that India and Pakistan will have additional opportunities for constructive dialogue on this site," Antonio Guterres said.