Recently, the International Conference on "Water Resources and Sustainable Development"  co-organized by the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, and the Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia (Dushanbe) was held at the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan. Under the theme of "Sustainable Development in Tajikistan in the Context of Climate Change: Challenges and Strategies", this meeting focused on key issues such as glacier change, water resources management, water energy development and sustainable development in Tajikistan in the context of climate warming.

This meeting was jointly attended by the Institute of Water Issues, Water Energy and Ecology, the Glacier Research Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, and the Chengdu Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The opening ceremony was co-hosted by Research Fellow Zhang Yuanming (Director of Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences), Saidov Abdusattor (Director of RCEECA (Dushanbe)) and Aminjon Gulakhmadov (Deputy Director of the Institute of Water Issues, Water Energy and Ecology of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan).

In his speech, Director Zhang Yuanming introduced the background and research framework of this meeting in details, and highlighted the importance and urgency of the research. Meanwhile, he also introduced the construction progress of the China-Tajikistan Joint Laboratory for the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Biological Resources, and he hoped that scientific research personnel from both sides could make full use of their respective advantages to conduct deep cooperation in high-precision observation, numerical simulation and adaptive strategies.

Saidov Abdusattor (Director of RCEECA (Dushanbe)) said that this meeting was a solid step for cooperative research between China and Tajikistan in the field of water resources and glacier disasters. Attended by many experts and scholars engaged in water resources and glacier research in Tajikistan, this meeting would provide powerful scientific and technological support for the sustainable development of Tajikistan.

Research Fellow Chen Yaning presented  report entitled "Issues, Challenges and Adaptive Strategies for Sustainable Development in Tajikistan". Subsequently, Research Fellows Li Zhi, Li Zhongqin, Fang Gonghuan and Du Hongru presented detailed reports on themes such as hydrological and water resources change, glacier cooperative research, water energy development and social & economic development.

The attended experts held an enthusiastic discussion on the thematic reports, focusing on the challenges faced by Tajikistan in the field of water resources management, glacier disaster prevention and control, water energy development and social & economic sustainable development. Both sides agreed that climate change imposed a profound impact on Tajikistan's glacial resources and hydrological cycle, so there was an urgent need to enhance international cooperation to jointly address this global challenge.