Central Asian experts propose to create a platform for cooperation on water policy

Nur-Sultan hosted the international conference "Central Asian Cooperation in the New Geopolitical Conditions: Challenges and Prospects". Political scientists and experts discussed topical issues of practical measures for the further development of cooperation and cooperation of the Central Asian countries in the field of water policy, environmental protection, El.kz reports.  

Opening the plenary session, the head of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerkin Tukumov told about the number of geopolitical and geo-economic challenges.

"Today, the geopolitical situation is changing rapidly and has a direct impact on the foreign economic relations of the Central Asian countries. It is necessary to come to a common understanding of global and regional challenges and develop common approaches to their solution.

According to the International Monetary Fund, the average temperature in the countries of the Middle East and Central Asia increased by 1.5 degrees, which is twice the global increase of 0.7 degrees. Given that more than 60% of the territory of Central Asia has a dry climate with infrequent precipitation, rising temperatures lead to evaporation of water from the soil and increases the risk of drought," Yerkin Tukumov said.

To solve this problem, Tukumov proposed to create a regional platform for consolidated solutions to maintain a balance between economic development and environmental preservation.

"Water issues actualize the need for a serious study of the possibility of adopting 'water conservation' as a determining principle of the policy of the Central Asian states," Tukumov added.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Central Asia, Natalia Gherman, in her video message, noted that in modern conditions the world is becoming increasingly polarized, and this trend has an impact on the Central Asian region.

"External factors are becoming increasingly influential– from the narrow geopolitical interests of terrorist and extremist activities to climate change. In these circumstances, regional interaction and cooperation are crucial to curtail the challenges facing Central Asia," the speaker said.