Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan Strengthen Cooperation on Water Resources
In the city of Manas, the seventh meeting of the Joint Kyrgyz-Uzbek Water Management Commission was held, reports Kazinform.
During the meeting, both sides discussed key aspects of bilateral cooperation, including the rational use of water resources, ensuring water and energy security, and regional development opportunities.
Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry of Kyrgyzstan Bakyt Torobaev stated that water resources are a priority area of cooperation.
He emphasized that Kyrgyzstan, located in the upper reaches of the region’s main rivers, consistently fulfills its obligations to supply water to downstream countries, contributing to food and environmental security in Central Asia. He added that water should be seen not as a source of conflict but as a foundation for friendship and sustainable development.
The Kyrgyz side proposed several new initiatives, including the introduction of drip and automated irrigation in border areas, the creation of a “Green Belt of Friendship” along the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border to restore forests and combat desertification, and the further strengthening of cooperation between water and energy authorities.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of joint projects such as the construction of Kambarata HPP-1 and the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, which will enhance the region’s energy capacity and transport connectivity.
Earlier, the first meeting of the Kyrgyz-Tajik Joint Water Management Commission was held in Dushanbe.
