Dushanbe, 30 May 2025 — A delegation of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), led by Deputy Secretary General Mrs. Zhang Ling, took part in the High-Level International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation, held in Dushanbe from 30 to 31 June 2025.
Convened under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, H.E. Emomali Rahmon, the event brought together heads of state, government and representatives of international organizations. Confrence focused on the declaration of the United Nations resolution on the 2025 International Year of Glaciers and on advancing the “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, underscoring the vital role of glaciers in maintaining global environmental balance and addressing water-related challenges. Particular emphasis was placed on the intrinsic link between glacier preservation and sustainable socio-economic development.
In her address to the Plenary Session, CICA Deputy Secretary General Mrs. Zhang Ling emphasized the existential threat posed by glacier loss to water security, biodiversity, and disaster resilience across the CICA region. She highlighted CICA’s efforts in fostering collaboration among Member States to enhance environmental sustainability and promote sustainable water management. Mrs. Zhang Ling underscored the urgent need for collective action and reaffirmed CICA’s commitment to fostering dialogue and implementing joint actions, building on the outcomes of the 2024 CICA Ministerial Conference on Environmental Issues held in Astana. This conference resulted in a High-level Statement where CICA Member States pledged to enhance collaboration on climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable water management.
Concluding her statement, the Deputy Secretary General stressed the importance of transforming challenges into opportunities to ensure sustainable water governance and equitable access to clean water for future generations.
The Conference is expected to contribute to the implementation of UN resolutions on the “International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation 2025” and the “Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences, 2025–2034”, by mobilizing resources and fostering international cooperation. It seeks to strengthen global partnerships among governments, scientists, civil society, and other stakeholders, with a focus on enhancing transboundary collaboration to preserve glaciers and their socio-economic benefits.
