An international scientific and practical conference “Water Diplomacy in Central Asia: Trust, Dialogue and Multilateral Cooperation for Sustainable Development” was held in Tashkent.

The event, organized by the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, was attended by over 100 representatives from over 10 countries, including representatives of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, the International Water Management Institute, the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia, the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, the Scientific Information Centre of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination of Central Asia.

The ISRS partners in organizing the conference were the Ministry of Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, the German Agency for International Cooperation, the International Institute for Water Management and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

ISRS First Deputy Director Akramjon Nematov noted that Central Asia demonstrates an alternative opportunity to form a space of mutually beneficial cooperation based on respect, solidarity, and the desire for joint sustainable development.

“The Central Asian states, which were considered a zone of contradictions and disagreements ten years ago, are making a significant contribution to solving urgent problems, says A. Nematov. “Dushanbe is expected to host an International Conference on Glacier Conservation next month. In 2026, Astana will host the Regional Climate Summit of Central Asia. In 2027, Bishkek will host the Second Global Mountain Summit “Bishkek+”, and in 2028, Dushanbe will host the High-Level Conference on the implementation of the goals of the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” (2018-2028). The water and climate agenda, which once divided the Central Asian states, is becoming a unifying factor that promotes active mutual cooperation. The Central Asian countries are unanimous in the fact that only by joining efforts can we effectively cope with the challenges of our time, including in the field of water security”.

As Akramjon Nematov noted, water diplomacy is gaining particular relevance, as it is seen as a tool for promoting an effective model for developing water cooperation not only in the Central Asian region, but also throughout the world. In 2023, the UN General Assembly called for developing water diplomacy as an independent scientific discipline and a separate area of ​​international cooperation.

“Water diplomacy is not a new phenomenon for our region, all our countries are promoting it”, says Akramjon Nematov. “It is essential to summarize and implement the accumulated experience in everyday activities. I am confident that water diplomacy will add stability to the achieved dynamics of a mutually beneficial solution to the region’s water problems. For the first time, the delegation of Afghanistan is participating in a multilateral dialogue with Central Asian countries in such an expanded format. This indicates a readiness for constructive interaction with the countries of Central Asia.

Recently, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on the establishment in Almaty of the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan, which was initiated by Kazakhstan in co-authorship with the Central Asian countries. This became another indicator that Afghanistan is an integral part of Central Asia. Each country is ready to cooperate with its neighbor based on mutual respect and consideration of each other’s interests to benefit the entire region’s security, stability, and sustainable development. All issues, no matter how acute they may be, should be the subject of dialogue and not an obstacle. And diplomacy, including water diplomacy, can become the key to establishing such a dialogue and jointly finding mutually beneficial solutions.

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