Experts Link Central Asia’s Social Stability to Addressing Water and Environmental Challenges
Avaza, October 7 | ORIENT. The "Avaza" National Tourist Zone hosted the international conference "Demographic Processes and Sustainable Development: Contemporary Challenges and International Experience," bringing together leaders and representatives from the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, the parliaments of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and CIS countries, as well as relevant UN agencies.
The primary goal of this major forum was to develop comprehensive approaches for incorporating demographic trends into long-term public administration strategies. Participants noted that, amidst a global demographic crisis, Central Asia stands out as one of the most dynamically growing macro-regions in Eurasia.
Experts and specialists from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) conducted a detailed analysis of scientifically grounded methods for managing demographic processes, the implementation of digital technologies for primary data collection, and the effective use of census data for the precise planning of social, engineering, and transport infrastructure.
Particular emphasis was placed on the need to balance population growth with labor market development through the creation of high-tech jobs within the digital economy.
Sharing its regional experience, Turkmenistan presented its social standards, including the development of the "Ene Mähri" network of innovative medical centers and the implementation of "smart" and "green" city concepts—such as Arkadag City—designed to ensure environmental safety.
Experts also focused on rural development strategies, improving the quality of education for the younger generation, and aligning national legislation with UN conventions. Forum participants adopted a final document aimed at the systematic management of human capital within the framework of the global 2030 Agenda.
…Commenting on the outcomes of the international conference, it is worth noting that beneath the academic language describing a "young and dynamic region" lies one of the acute challenges facing 21st-century Eurasian geopolitics.
However, Ashgabat’s pragmatic decision to raise these issues within the Caspian framework—on the eve of Central Asian and CIS heads-of-state summits—stems from the recognition that the rapid population growth in our macro-region, particularly in rural areas, necessitates substantial and reliable water supplies to expand irrigated agriculture and agro-industrial production in the interest of food security.
At the same time, population growth in downstream areas and the water strategy of neighboring Afghanistan are exacerbating water resource constraints. By organizing this forum in Avaza, Ashgabat has sought to establish a unified regional framework—comprising scientific, technological, and legal components—to safeguard against these challenges.
The underlying aim of these efforts is to balance natural human capital growth with the development of the digital economy and "green" urbanization, while also forging a unified stance among CIS and Central Asian nations to address potential escalations in water-related issues.
Bekdurdy AMANSARYEV, Expert at the Center for Strategic Studies, Institute of International Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan
