BISHKEK, August 14. /Dunyo IA/. An article dedicated to Uzbekistan’s water diplomacy within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the importance of regional cooperation has been published in the popular Kyrgyz newspaper “Vecherniy Bishkek”, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

Article notes that transforming water from a source of competition into a factor of cooperation is one of the key conditions for regional stability. According to the author, Uzbekistan views water diplomacy not merely as an instrument of foreign policy, but as a logical continuation of the large-scale reforms being implemented within the country. Therefore, the rational use of water resources has been elevated to the level of state policy.

Also, publication notes that on August 7^th, 2026, the 94^th meeting of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC) was held in Turkistan. The meeting addressed the establishment of water-use limits and operating regimes for reservoirs in the Syr Darya and Amu Darya basins, as well as the implementation of the CAWEC grant project, worth $20 million, with the participation of the World Bank. In addition, a pilot project is being implemented with the support of GIZ to introduce an automated monitoring system at transboundary water facilities between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

The article provides specific indicators of the practical results achieved by Uzbekistan in the water management sector. In particular, in 2025, construction and rehabilitation works were carried out at 258 irrigation and land reclamation facilities, and 723 kilo meters of canals were lined with concrete. As a result, water supply to 364,000 hectares of land improved, while water savings exceeded 500 million cubic meters.

In 2026, 2 trillion 199 billion soums were allocated from the state budget for the implementation of 308 projects. As of August 1^st, 637 kilo meters of canals had been lined with concrete, 268 kilometres of collector-drainage networks had been constructed, along with new pumping stations.

At the same time, the introduction of water-saving technologies made it possible to save 3 billion cubic meters of water in 2025. By the end of 2026, the goal has been set to increase the area of land covered by such technologies to 3.1 million hectares and water savings to 5 billion cubic meters. Since the beginning of the current year, water-saving technologies have already been introduced on an additional 638,000 hectares.

Author also highlights issues related to the accurate accounting and digitalization of water resources. In 2025, the Center for Digitalization and Monitoring of Water Management and the Situation Center were established, and 10 information systems were introduced. The “State Water Cadastre” and “Land Reclamation” systems provide opportunities for analysis and forecasting using artificial intelligence.

At reservoirs, 44 remote sensors, 272 devices for online monitoring of the volume of water passing through the state border, as well as 1,895 units of monitoring equipment at district boundaries are being installed.

In conclusion, the article emphasizes the need to establish a permanent coordination mechanism within the SCO between the ministries responsible for water management, energy and agriculture. It also highlights the importance of consolidating the accumulated experience in drip and sprinkler irrigation through the creation of pilot areas, as well as implementing joint scientific programs.

As noted in the publication, the rational and equitable use of water resources serves as a solid guarantee for the region's economic development, good-neighbourliness and a sustainable future.