Tokyo, July 31, 2026 – Ambassador Yerlan Baudarbek-Kozhatayev met with Yutaka Hosomi, Secretary General of the Japan Water Forum, to discuss current challenges on the global water agenda.
Ambassador presented the initiative of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to establish an International Water Organization under the auspices of the United Nations.
The parties exchanged views on the role and functions of the proposed international platform, which is intended to enhance the effectiveness of global water governance, strengthen coordination among existing international mechanisms, and serve as an open platform for inclusive dialogue and collaborative solutions to global water challenges.
Mr. Hosomi highly commended Kazakhstan’s water diplomacy initiatives, highlighting their timeliness, relevance, and international significance. He stressed that today’s water challenges require a comprehensive approach, given their close interlinkages with climate change, sustainable economic development, and international security.
He also expressed Japan’s interest in further expanding cooperation with Kazakhstan on water-related issues, including sustainable water resources management, strengthening water security, and fostering cooperation among relevant public organizations and research institutions of Kazakhstan and Japan.
The meeting took place within the framework of Japan Water Week, a series of events organized by the Government of Japan to promote international cooperation on water resources and address global water challenges. During the international symposium “Thinking Future of Water,” Ambassador Baudarbek-Kozhatayev presented Kazakhstan’s perspective on water challenges in Central Asia and the country’s initiatives to address regional water issues to heads of international organizations and senior government officials, including Asian Development Bank President Masato Kanda, Japan’s Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for the UN Water Conference Yoko Kamikawa, Japan’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Yasushi Kaneko, and Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam.
Background: The Japan Water Forum brings together around 100 leading Japanese organizations working in the fields of water policy, water resource management, and sustainable development. The Forum serves as the secretariat of the Asia-Pacific Water Forum and the Asia-Pacific Water Summit.
