Uzbekistan Calls for Water Cooperation at Eurasian Summit

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has sent a message of greeting to participants of the 29th Eurasian Economic Summit taking place in Istanbul, focusing on global environmental challenges and the need for a transition to sustainable development.

Mirziyoyev said the summit has become an important platform for dialogue over the past decades, bringing together leading politicians, business representatives, and experts. He highlighted the symbolic importance of Istanbul as a historic bridge between Europe and Asia, facilitating cultural and economic exchange between regions.

The president praised the role of modern Türkiye, which is implementing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s strategic vision known as the “Century of Türkiye.” According to Mirziyoyev, Türkiye’s international standing continues to grow as a reliable and influential actor capable of mobilizing efforts to address pressing global issues.

He noted that thanks to Erdoğan’s consistent efforts, relations between Uzbekistan and Türkiye have reached the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership. He added that Uzbek-Turkish priorities align closely with the objectives of the Eurasian Economic Summit, including expanding multilateral cooperation and promoting sustainable development based on equality, trust, and mutual respect.

Mirziyoyev focused in particular on one of the key themes of the current summit — global responsibility amid growing shortages of water and green resources. He said the issue has become increasingly urgent as the world faces rising climate challenges, including desertification, land degradation, water scarcity, and worsening environmental conditions.

These processes are particularly severe in Central Asia, where warming is occurring faster than the global average, glaciers are shrinking, and land degradation is intensifying, he said. In this context, ensuring environmental sustainability has become a key priority of New Uzbekistan’s development strategy.

The president outlined national efforts to address environmental challenges. Under the “Green Space” project, 200 million trees are planted annually.

Large-scale protective plantations have already been established on the dried seabed of the Aral Sea to prevent the spread of salt and dust storms.

Uzbekistan is steadily transitioning toward a green development model and has already reduced emissions by 35%.

The country aims to cut emissions by 50% by 2035, while also implementing measures for efficient water resource management, including water-saving technologies that enable significant annual water savings.

Mirziyoyev said Uzbekistan intends to continue actively promoting the green agenda and contributing to solutions for global environmental challenges. He invited summit participants to attend upcoming international events in the country, including the Assembly of the Global Environment Facility in Samarkand and the World Water Conservation Forum.

He expressed confidence that joint efforts would make a practical contribution to international climate cooperation, including preparations for the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference.

The president reaffirmed Uzbekistan’s openness to broad partnerships and readiness to contribute to sustainable development. He said that only through collective efforts can countries ensure a prosperous future for current and future generations.

In conclusion, Mirziyoyev wished participants productive work and meaningful outcomes. The message reflects Uzbekistan’s commitment to playing an active role in global environmental governance and strengthening international cooperation on climate and sustainability, particularly given Central Asia’s vulnerability to climate change.