Kazakhstan works on signing water distribution agreements with Uzbekistan and China

Kazakhstan is working on signing agreements on water distribution in trans-boundary rivers with Uzbekistan and China. This is what Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov said at the Cabinet’s weekly meeting.

The Minister informed the Cabinet members of joint use of international watercourses and development of cooperation with neighbor countries. Seven out of country’s eight water-river basins are transboundary ones, he said.

According to him, the Concept of Water Resources Management System Development for 2024-2030 provides for signing agreements with Uzbekistan and China on joint management, use and distribution of water in transboundary water resources. This will enable to develop interstate water relations, he said. 

Besides, the ministry drafts an agreement on water-energy cooperation of the Central Asian countries, added he. 

Noteworthy to say, that the draft law “On ratification of the Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses” was discussed in the Majilis and submitted to the Senate. The Convention is an international legal mechanism promoting equal and sustainable management of transboundary rivers, lakes, and underground waters linked to them around the world.