On March 12, 2026, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan Beibut Atamkulov held a meeting with the Minister of Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Khamraev.

During the meeting, the parties reviewed topical issues of bilateral cooperation in the field of water resources in the context of the upcoming Regional Environmental Summit and the meeting of the Heads of the Founding States of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS).

The parties noted with satisfaction the importance of signing the Agreement on the Joint Management and Rational Use of Transboundary Water Bodies, describing it as another significant step in strengthening Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan cooperation.

The need for the early launch of the Working Group on forecasting water availability of transboundary rivers, established following the second meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in November 2025, was emphasized.

Particular attention was paid to the initiative of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to establish an International Water Organization under the auspices of the United Nations, aimed at consolidating the mandates of UN bodies operating in the field of water resources.

The Head of the diplomatic mission provided detailed information to the Uzbek side on the prospects of establishing such a structure within the UN system and its potential effectiveness in addressing transboundary water management issues for the countries of the region.

For his part, Sh. Khamraev confirmed his personal participation in the events of the Regional Environmental Summit and the upcoming IFAS meetings. He also expressed readiness for a constructive consideration and support of the initiatives put forward by the Kazakh side.

The Minister highly appreciated the measures being implemented in Kazakhstan to introduce water-saving technologies and noted the high level of trust and cooperation between the water management authorities of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

The parties also held a substantive discussion on the current state and prospects of regional cooperation among Central Asian countries amid the growing shortage of water resources, and exchanged views on Uzbekistan’s forthcoming chairmanship in the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-tashkent/press/news/details/1179980?lang=kk