Tokayev’s Water Initiative Presented in Japan

Kazakhstan is advancing its water initiative in Japan. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s proposal to establish an International Water Organization under the auspices of the UN was presented during Japan Water Week and to senior representatives of international institutions, DKNews.kz reports.

The initiative was discussed by Yerlan Baudarbek-Kozhatayev, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Japan, and Yutaka Hosomi, Secretary General of the Japan Water Forum.

Kazakhstan Proposes a New Platform for Global Water Governance

The central topic of the meeting was Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s initiative to establish an International Water Organization under the auspices of the United Nations.

According to the Kazakh side, the new international platform is intended to improve the effectiveness of global water governance and strengthen coordination among existing international mechanisms.

Another proposed function is to provide an open and inclusive platform where countries and other stakeholders can discuss water-related challenges and jointly develop solutions.

Japan Water Forum Praises Kazakhstan’s Initiative

Yutaka Hosomi highly assessed Kazakhstan’s initiatives in water diplomacy, describing them as timely, relevant and internationally significant.

In his view, today’s water challenges require a comprehensive approach because they are closely linked to climate change, sustainable economic development and international security.

The Japanese side also expressed interest in expanding cooperation with Kazakhstan in water resource management and strengthening water security.

Cooperation between civil society organizations and research institutions in the two countries was also identified as a promising area.

Kazakhstan’s Initiative Presented to ADB President

Kazakhstan’s water diplomacy was discussed beyond the bilateral meeting.

At the international symposium Thinking Future of Water, Yerlan Baudarbek-Kozhatayev presented information on water challenges in Central Asia and Kazakhstan’s initiatives to address regional water issues to senior officials and heads of international organizations.

Participants included Masato Kanda, President of the Asian Development Bank, Yoko Kamikawa, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Japan to the UN Water Conference, Yasushi Kaneko, Japan’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and Hani Sewilam, Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation.

This brought Kazakhstan’s initiative before representatives of international financial institutions and governments directly engaged in the global water agenda.

Central Asia Enters the Japan Water Week Agenda

The meetings took place as part of Japan Water Week, a series of events organized by the Government of Japan to discuss international cooperation on water resources and solutions to global water challenges.

For Kazakhstan, the platform provided an opportunity to present Central Asia’s water issues as part of the broader international debate on water security.

The Japan Water Forum brings together around 100 leading Japanese organizations working in water policy, water resource management and sustainable development.

It also serves as the secretariat of the Asia-Pacific Water Forum and the Asia-Pacific Water Summit.

Following the meeting, stronger ties between specialized organizations and research institutions in Kazakhstan and Japan were identified as one of the practical areas for further cooperation.