The presidents of Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan on August 4 met in Ashgabat to consider new approaches to water, energy and transport partnership. Trilateral talks between Serdar Berdimuhamedov, Emomoli Rakhmon and Shavkat Mirziyoyev were held. They resulted in the adoption of a joint statement.
The document says the three countries are committed to further strengthening of interaction in political, trade and economic, transport and logistics, water and energy, environmental, cultural and humanitarian spheres.
The main points of the statement are:
Water
Noting the importance of continuing constructive dialogue on water and energy issues, the sides stressed the priority importance of rational use of water resources of the Amu Darya River.
At the same time, they noted the need to further improve mechanisms of multilateral interaction in order to ensure effective response to new challenges, including those related to climate change and potential increase in pressure on water resources of the Amu Darya River.
The Parties noted the importance of further strengthening cooperation on climate change mitigation and adaptation, combating desertification, land degradation, glacier melting, environmental protection, early warning systems, ecology, biodiversity conservation, promotion of common projects and programmes in the above-mentioned areas.
Energy
The Parties, noting the importance of developing co-operation in the energy sector, stressed the particular importance of co-operation in the supply of natural gas, oil and oil products, as well as electricity.
In this regard, negotiations at the level of heads of energy agencies are scheduled for the second half of 2023.
Transport
In order to expand cooperation in the field of transport and use the transit potential of the three countries, the parties stressed the importance of intensifying multimodal traffic along the Tajikistan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan transport route, which provides the three countries with access to seaports, including those of the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf.
The three countries agreed to optimise tariffs and provide favourable conditions for transit transportation of foreign trade cargoes. The heads of transport departments of the states have been instructed to meet before the end of this year.
Industrial co-operation
The sides paid attention to the development of industrial and production cooperation and agreed to expand long-term mutually beneficial cooperation by establishing joint ventures in textile, chemical, construction and other industries.
Security
The sides noted the importance of strengthening cooperation in combating terrorism, separatism and extremism in all their forms and manifestations, as well as trans-border organised crime, illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, cybercrime, human trafficking and illegal migration.
Credits: Eziz Boyarov
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