Kazakhstan and Russia reach understanding on Irtysh use, await China

Kazakhstan, China and Russia are working to hold trilateral consultations on the joint use of the Irtysh River, Russia’s Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology Alexander Kozlov said in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta (Russian Gazette), Interfax reported.

Kozlov said the joint Russia-Kazakhstan working group is already drafting a plan for water management and water-energy use on the Irtysh. Experts have already drawn up a plan to enhance water and environmental safety, as well as develop energy infrastructure.

«The parties have already determined their respective areas of responsibility and prepared a schedule with specifications of the work, deadlines for its completion and the cost of each stage,» he noted.

The minister added that he sees great potential for developing the project in a trilateral format with China on board.

«We are currently working to ensure the possibility of holding trilateral consultations at the level of the relevant ministries to discuss prospects for cooperation on the Irtysh,» Kozlov said.

Earlier, Kazakhstan and Russia signed a special protocol stipulating their intention to jointly manage the transboundary Irtysh River and develop tourism and other areas along it. The cooperation plan covers more than 30 areas, ranging from the economy and agriculture to sports, digitalization and youth policy.