Water remains a key pillar of Tajikistan’s international cooperation agenda, First Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Resources Jamshed Shoimzoda said during the Fourth High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action, “Water for Sustainable Development, 2018–2028,” taking place in Dushanbe.

“For Tajikistan, water is a key area of international cooperation. Our country consistently promotes the global water agenda within the framework of the United Nations and the Dushanbe Water Process,” Shoimzoda told a correspondent of the National Information Agency of Tajikistan Khovar.

Shoimzoda said Tajikistan is placing particular emphasis on glacier preservation, water security, and accelerating practical measures under the International Decade for Action, “Water for Sustainable Development, 2018–2028.”

“It is important for Tajikistan that global water initiatives receive practical implementation at the regional and basin levels,” he said.

According to the deputy minister, water issues in Central Asia are closely linked to food security, energy, environmental sustainability, and public well-being.

“For Central Asia, water is the foundation of trust and development,” Shoimzoda said. “Tajikistan, as a mountainous country and one of the region’s main sources of freshwater resources, recognizes its responsibility for preserving these resources and strengthening good-neighborly and mutually beneficial cooperation.”

He stressed that Tajikistan views water as a tool for cooperation rather than conflict.

“Our country’s position is that water should not become a source of discord, but rather the basis for joint development, trust, and sustainability across the entire region,” Shoimzoda added.

The deputy minister warned that climate change is already affecting Central Asia’s water systems through glacier retreat, shifting river flow patterns, drought risks, and extreme weather events.

“Joint monitoring, water forecasting, early warning systems, and preparation for low-water periods are especially important for the region,” he said. “Glacier preservation and sustainable water management are matters not only of ecology, but also of the future of our economies, energy systems, and food security.”

Shoimzoda also called for strengthening transboundary water cooperation through practical mechanisms, including broader data sharing, digitalization, and modern forecasting technologies.

“Effective basin management requires the exchange of information not only on runoff formation and forecasts, but also on water withdrawal and use, especially among major water consumers,” he said.

He noted that modern technologies, modeling systems, and decision-support tools could help countries better plan water use and respond more effectively to climate-related risks.

Shoimzoda said Central Asia’s experience and practical solutions should contribute to future international water initiatives, including preparations for the 2026 U.N. Water Conference and the conclusion of the Water Decade in 2028.

“Tajikistan is ready to support the development of a regional dialogue based on reciprocity, trust, and shared responsibility,” he said. “We propose using this forum not only for exchanging views, but also for identifying concrete next steps on data exchange, forecasting, basin coordination, and sharing Central Asia’s experience at the global level.”

He concluded by emphasizing that the future of water cooperation depends on collective action.

“The future of water cooperation is determined not only by statements and agreements, but also by the ability to jointly plan, forecast, and act,” Shoimzoda said.