CC BY 4.0Vicki McDonald2025-08-252025-08-252025-08-25https://2025.ifla.org/https://repository.ifla.org/handle/20.500.14598/4429The Opening Ceremony address of IFLA WLIC 2025 welcomes delegates to Astana, marking the first IFLA Congress in Central Asia. The speech emphasizes inclusivity, the record number of first-time participants, and the importance of global collaboration under the theme Stronger Together. It highlights the Congress theme, Uniting Knowledge, Building the Future, its links to the IFLA Strategy and the 2024 Trend Report, and the role of libraries in shaping sustainable futures. The address acknowledges the contributions of the Kazakhstan National Committee and IFLA officers, while encouraging participants to engage fully, build professional connections, and strengthen the global library community.enhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/World Library and Information CongressPresidentLibrary advocacyInternational librarianshipFuture of librariesSustainabilityStorytellingInclusionCross-cultural cooperationIFLA StrategyTrend reportProfessional developmentKnowledge sharingCommunity librariesArticleVicki McDonald