On 25–28 May 2026, the 4th High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development, 2018–2028” was held in Dushanbe. The forum was attended by the delegation of Turkmenistan headed by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan T. Atahallyyev. About this reports MFA of Turkmenistan.
The conference focused on advancing the objectives of the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development, 2018–2028”, accelerating the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal No. 6, as well as preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference.
The opening ceremony of the forum took place on 26 May at the “Kokhi Somon” complex with the participation of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan.
In his speech during the opening ceremony, the head of the Turkmen delegation emphasized that Turkmenistan views water resources as a key factor for sustainable development, regional stability and international cooperation, particularly considering the transboundary nature of water resources in Central Asia.
It was underlined that Turkmenistan consistently advocates for the establishment of a fair, sustainable and scientifically grounded water management system based on the norms of international law, taking into account the interests of all states of the region and with the active coordinating role of the United Nations.
Special attention was paid to Turkmenistan’s international initiatives in the fields of water and ecology. In particular, the significance of the proposal to establish a Regional Council on Water Issues in Central Asia under the auspices of the UN as an effective mechanism for coordinating the interests of the regional states was highlighted.
The relevance of the initiatives to establish a Regional Climate Technologies Center and a Regional Center for Combating Desertification in Central Asia aimed at promoting scientific cooperation, technology transfer and strengthening regional collaboration was also reaffirmed.
Turkmenistan’s commitment to further developing international cooperation within the framework of the key UN conventions on water resources, climate change, combating desertification and biodiversity conservation was confirmed, taking into account the interrelated nature of environmental processes and the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing them.
During the plenary and thematic sessions, participants discussed issues related to sustainable and integrated water resources management, ensuring access to safe drinking water and sanitation, as well as strengthening international and regional cooperation in the water sector.
