Tokayev's emphasis on water safety
Tokayev's emphasis on water safety
President of Kazakhstan Tokayev called for international cooperation to ensure water security.
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said that as a landlocked country, they are ready to contribute to collective efforts to strengthen water security.
According to the statement of the President of Kazakhstan, President Tokayev spoke at the opening of the United Water summit organized by Kazakhstan, France, Saudi Arabia and the World Bank in the capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh.
Stating that water security is the foundation of sustainable development, economic progress and environmental protection, Tokayev said: "More than 2 billion people in the world still do not have access to quality drinking water, and more than 4 billion face serious water shortages."
Stating that his country would adhere to global initiatives to ensure access to drinking water, Tokayev said: "Kazakhstan, which has large territories and has no coast to the sea, understands very well the real value of water."
Tokayev noted that glaciers feeding rivers and lakes, which provide drinking water to about 2 billion people in the world, play a vital role in the global water cycle, and proposed creating a global "partnership" to protect glaciers.
Noting that water shortages also threaten food, energy security and industrial growth, Tokayev said: "Water has no edges. Therefore, countries need to expand dialogue on this issue, develop international partnerships and pool resources for the implementation of water projects."
Tokayev stated that water security can be achieved through the development of the "one water" principle and multilateral dialogue, and in this context, Kazakhstan is ready to contribute to collective efforts to strengthen global water resources management.
In addition to Tokayev, French President Emmanuel Macron, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman, World Bank President Ajay Banga and Co-Chairman of the Global Commission on Water Management Johan Rockstrom also spoke at the summit.