BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 15. Uzbekistan and
Japan discussed measures to strengthen the resilience of cities
across Central Asia to climate change and natural disasters, with a
focus on early warning systems, disaster preparedness and
risk-based urban planning.
This was reflected in the statement by the National Committee on
Ecology and Climate Change of Uzbekistan.
The high-level dialogue was organized in Tashkent by the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Japan’s Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) under two regional
UNDP projects implemented with the support of the Japanese
government.
Government officials, Japanese and Uzbek partners and experts
participated in the discussions, which focused on integrating
climate adaptation into urban planning and strengthening regional
cooperation on disaster risk reduction.
Uzbekistan Presidential Adviser on Ecology and Chairman of the
National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change Aziz Abduhakimov
highlighted the importance of closer cooperation with Japan in
disaster risk reduction, early warning systems and resilient urban
development.
“This dialogue will open new opportunities for cooperation with
Japanese companies and technical experts, particularly in early
warning systems, resilient infrastructure, sustainable urban
development and advanced environmental technologies,” Abduhakimov
said.
Japanese State Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and
Tourism Hajime Sasaki said Japan was ready to share its experience
in disaster preparedness and resilient infrastructure.
“We are ready to share with Uzbekistan Japan’s knowledge,
technologies and public-private partnership experience in disaster
risk reduction and contribute to the development of safe and
resilient cities,” Sasaki said.
The discussions covered seismic safety, flood preparedness and
risk-based approaches to urban development. Japanese experts
presented their experience in disaster response, while Uzbek
representatives outlined measures being implemented in cities
including Tashkent and Namangan.
Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations Khurshid Sotiev said
early warning systems, seismic safety and risk-oriented urban
planning were directly linked to public safety and required
practical cooperation.
Japan’s Ambassador to Uzbekistan Kenji Hirata noted that
disaster risk reduction, urban resilience and climate change have
been identified as key areas of cooperation under the Central Asia
Plus Japan Dialogue.
UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan Akiko Fujii
emphasized the importance of investing in urban resilience
alongside rapid urbanization. She noted that Uzbekistan’s first
climate and disaster risk profile had been developed with a focus
on Namangan.
The dialogue concluded with joint recommendations to strengthen
institutional capacity, improve early warning systems and deepen
regional cooperation on disaster risk reduction and climate
resilience.
