AKIPRESS.COM - Kazakhstan suggests building a regional water and energy consortium to tackle water scarcity, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu said at the Central Asian Security and Cooperation Forum in Astana.

The Foreign Minister outlined certain issues requiring close attention for Central Asia's future development, including water shortage, the environment, border dispute, and situation in Afghanistan. Fair and reasonable allocation of water resources becomes a serious challenge amid population upsurge and water scarcity. For this reason Kazakhstan suggests building a regional hydropower consortium.

At the same time, Kazakhstan is making efforts to restore the Aral Sea through the international foundations created jointly with the partners in Central Asia early 90s.

Besides, the Foreign Minister said Kazakhstan cooperates with Russia, China, and Afghanistan to solve current issues concerning transboundary rivers.