DUSHANBE, 20.06.2018 /NIAT “Khovar”/. The International High-Level Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028 kicked off today, June 20 in the government residence, “Kokhi Somon”, in Dushanbe city.

As NIAT “Khovar” correspondent Payrav QOSIM reports, there took place a family photo ceremony at the beginning of the conference.

It is expected that the Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon will take part and deliver speech at the International High-Level Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028.

The conference is also attended by the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain, Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Liu Zhenmin, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Rashid Alimov, EU Special Representative for Central Asia Peter Burian, Head of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) Ms. Natalia Gherman, high-level delegations from more than 110 countries around the world, representatives of UN agencies, international and regional organizations, international financial institutions, businesses, NGOs, civil society, academia and other stakeholders.

The conference is organized by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan in cooperation with the UN and other partners.

It should be noted that at the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly was held an event on the occasion of the launch of the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028. The project was initiated by the Republic of Tajikistan in co-sponsorship with 177 UN member states.

In accordance with the adopted decision, the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028 was launched on March 22 on the International World Water Day. This is the fourth global initiative of Tajikistan on water-related issues. It was announced for the first time by the Founder of Peace and National Unity — Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon in 2015 from the rostrum of the 7th World Water Forum in the Republic of Korea.

These initiatives have contributed to the active involvement of all stakeholders in water management, projects aimed at improving access to safe drinking water and sanitation, as well as the introduction of appropriate technologies and innovations.