On October 9, the International Symposium on "Glacier Protection and Sustainable Utilization of Water Resources in Central Asia", co-organized by Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography CAS, the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, the Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia (Dushanbe), the Institute of Water Issues, Hydroenergy and Ecology of the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, and the Glacier Research Center of Tajikistan, was successfully held in Dushanbe. This meeting focused on glacier change, water resource utilization, and water disaster monitoring & early warning, and aimed at the United Nations "2018-2028 Water for Sustainable Development" 10-year Plan of International Action and 2025 International Glacier Year. More than 30 experts and scholars from China, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Russia and other countries attended this meeting.

This meeting was organized by the Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia (Dushanbe). Khushvakhtzoda Kobiljon, President of the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, Zhang Yuanming, Director of the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography CAS, Juma Daler, Minister of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan, Nazarzoda Rustam, Chairman of the Committee for Emergency Situations and Civil Defense of Tajikistan, and Sheralizoda Bakhodur, Chairman of the Environmental Protection Committee of Tajikistan, attended and addressed this meeting.

Khushvakhtzoda Kobiljon, President of the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, said that, Tajikistan's glaciers covering more than 6% of the country's total area, are not only a valuable fresh water resource, but also a regulator of water resources and climate in Central Asia, but they have rapidly melted in the past decade under the influence of climate change, which has become a global threat to the Earth. In particular, the global proposals presented to the United Nations by the President of Tajikistan, his Excellency Emomali Rahmon, and the international community's support for them, encouraged us to think over these issues and strived us to put these urgent issues into practice.

Zhang Yuanming, Director of the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography CAS, said in his speech that, Central Asia, as a typical arid region with a population of about 80 million, most of its important water resources come from the snow and glacier melt water of the Tianshan and Pamir Mountains. As the theme of this meeting, the glacier protection and sustainable utilization of water resources, were the important and challenging issues that scientists were required to discuss and propose solutions.

The purpose of this meeting was to explore the current issues of glaciers and water resources in the Central Asian regions and to provide a platform for the exchange of information, knowledge and experience between the scientists and experts from scientific and educational institutions and the representatives of governmental institutions in the field of ecology and sustainable development, enhancing scientific research exchange and cooperation among all parties. A total of 22 experts and scholars in the fields of ecology, geography and glaciology presented relevant reports at this meeting, and some scientific papers will be published in the journal of the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan via peer review.

discussed.

Director Zhang Yuanming delivered a speech

Group photo of participants