The Trilateral Summit of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan Presidents, held in Ashgabat, once again demonstrated the aspiration of the countries of the region to multilateral cooperation and constructive dialogue based on respect for the interests of everyone.

The agenda of the meeting, among other vital areas of trilateral cooperation, included issues of rational use of water resources.

Speaking about this, the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized that the growing shortage of water resources in the region has become increasingly relevant in recent years and is becoming one of the most pressing issues for the fraternal peoples.

The global climate change observed today in the world, which demonstrates a trend towards an increase in average annual temperatures, has an impact on water scarcity. Under these conditions, the countries of Central Asia experience a significant burden based on the specifics of their geographical location, which has an arid character.

According to scientists, the region is warming faster than the global average. It is noted that over the past 10 years in Central Asia, the temperature has increased by 0.29°C. At the same time, the world average reached only 0.14°C.

This, in turn, accelerates the process of glacier melting, dry years are increasing, territories with arid and desertification-prone parts are expanding, agriculture is suffering, and the threat is growing to the environment and food security.

Under these conditions, all the region's states know the need for a profoundly thought-out joint search for ways to rationally use the two main water arteries of the Amudarya and Syrdarya regions.

Based on this, the Leader of Uzbekistan very timely proposed to intensify cooperation in such areas as introducing innovative water-saving technologies and modernizing irrigation systems, digitalizing water management processes, and developing infrastructure for collecting and storing mudflow and flood waters.

At the same time, the importance of using the potential of the only organization in Central Asia currently dealing with water and environmental issues, the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, was emphasized. Along with this, the President of Uzbekistan drew attention to the importance of continuing close and fruitful cooperation with authoritative international partners making efforts in the region’s sustainable development.

In general, such meetings at various venues and formats once again prove the firmness of their intentions in strengthening comprehensive relations and joining efforts to ensure water-environmental and socio-economic security in the region.

And the trilateral format of the summit in Ashgabat once again demonstrated the presence of the political will of the leaders of the countries of the region, aimed at solving urgent problems at different venues.

Nozim Khasanov,

Head of Department at the International Institute for Central Asia