Tashkent (Khyber Mail): Tashkent is hosting an International Scientific and Practical Conference titled “Water Diplomacy in Central Asia: Trust, Dialogue and Multilateral Cooperation for Sustainable Development.” The forum brings together over 100 participants from more than 10 countries, marking a significant event in the region’s ongoing efforts to promote cooperation on water resource management.
Organized by the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Water Resources, and the “TIIAME” National Research University, the event is supported by major international organizations including the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, the International Water Management Institute, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and the German Agency for International Cooperation.
This year’s conference stands out for uniting, for the first time, leading experts from all Aral Sea basin countries—among them Central Asian republics, Afghanistan, as well as representatives from Asia, Europe, and the CIS. Officials from water management bodies, strategic institutions, and diplomatic missions in Uzbekistan are also taking part, alongside delegations from about 15 international and regional organizations such as the United Nations Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), UNAMA, CAREC, SIC ICWC, and the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS).
Water diplomacy has emerged as a critical tool for fostering sustainable and peaceful cooperation in Central Asia, and the Tashkent conference aims to strengthen this role. Participants are expected to engage in meaningful dialogue and exchange of best practices, with outcomes including actionable proposals to enhance regional collaboration.
The event is also part of celebrations marking the 90th anniversary of TIIAME National Research University and will gather approximately 300 domestic and international scientists from over 20 countries, underlining Uzbekistan’s growing leadership in addressing water challenges through diplomacy and science-based solutions.