Aziz Abdukhakimov, Adviser to the President of Uzbekistan on Environmental Issues and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, held a videoconference with Yerlan Nysanbayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan, as well as an in-person meeting with Beibut Atamkulov, Kazakh Ambassador to Uzbekistan, to discuss Uzbek-Kazakh cooperation in the environmental sphere, the Uzbek National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change reported.
During the videoconference, the parties discussed preparations for the Regional Environmental Summit in Astana. Particular attention was given to coordinating the positions of the two countries on key environmental issues, identifying priority agenda items and considering possible joint initiatives that could be presented at the upcoming event.
Cooperation in the field of forestry management was discussed as a separate item. The parties reviewed opportunities for exchanging experience in the sustainable management of forest resources, implementing joint projects and programs and expanding scientific and technical cooperation between the relevant institutions of the two countries.
The draft Memorandum of Cooperation on saiga conservation was also discussed. The participants focused on coordinating joint measures to preserve the population of this rare species and identifying the further steps required for the signing of the relevant document.
The parties also exchanged views on air quality issues. In particular, they reviewed the latest monitoring data, the possibilities for carrying out joint scientific research and environmental projects and the prospects for establishing an interstate coalition aimed at improving air quality.
During the meeting with Ambassador Atamkulov, the parties addressed issues related to the further strengthening of bilateral cooperation in the context of upcoming international events, including the Regional Environmental Summit in Astana, the 8th Assembly of the Global Environment Facility and the international exhibition Eco Expo 2026, which are scheduled to take place in Samarkand.
The parties also discussed cooperation on reducing air pollution, including the possible relocation of industrial enterprises and greenhouse facilities, the development of transboundary protected natural areas, and joint measures to conserve the saiga population.
