BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 7. Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates discussed strengthening international cooperation on water resource management and preparations for the upcoming UN Water Conference.
This was announced by the press service of the Kazakh MFA, following a meeting between Ambassador to the UAE Rauan Zhumabek and UAE Assistant Foreign Minister for Energy and Sustainability Affairs Abdulla Ahmed Balalaa.
The sides exchanged views on key issues of the international water agenda and emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts to ensure the sustainable use and preservation of water resources.
Zhumabek briefed his counterpart on Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s initiative to establish an International Organization for Water within the framework of the UN80 reform process. He highlighted the importance of the initiative in improving global water governance and promoting international cooperation in this area.
Balalaa, in turn, informed the Kazakh diplomat about preparations for the 3rd UN Conference on Water Resources, which will be held on December 8–10 in Abu Dhabi.
The conference is expected to become a major international platform for accelerating progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focuses on ensuring water availability and sustainable management, as well as for mobilizing partnerships, attracting investment and promoting practical solutions in the field of water security.
"Following the meeting, the parties noted that Kazakhstan and the UAE's approaches to developing international cooperation in the water sector largely coincide and complement each other. The parties reaffirmed their interest in further strengthening bilateral cooperation and coordinating efforts on sustainable water resource management at international forums," the statement of the ministry concludes.
