Kazakhstan, Russia and China are exploring the possibility of holding trilateral consultations on the shared use of the transboundary Irtysh River. Russian Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Alexander Kozlov said this in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Interfax reported, according to infohub.kz.
According to the head of Russia's environmental agency, a joint Russian-Kazakh working group is already preparing a project on the water management and hydropower use of the Irtysh. Experts have drawn up an action plan aimed at improving water and environmental security and developing energy infrastructure.
"The parties have defined each side's area of responsibility and prepared a calendar schedule detailing the work, its deadlines and the cost of each stage," Kozlov said.
The minister also stressed that he sees significant potential for developing the project in a trilateral format — with China's involvement.
"We are now working on the possibility of holding trilateral consultations at the level of the relevant ministries to discuss prospects for cooperation on the Irtysh," he said.
Earlier, Kursiv reported that Kazakhstan and Russia signed a special protocol cementing their intention to jointly manage the transboundary Irtysh River and to develop tourism and other areas along it. The cooperation plan covers more than 30 areas — from the economy and agriculture to sports, digitalization and youth policy.