DUSHANBE, September 4, Asia-Plus -- An informal regional summit that was held in the Kazakh capital city of Astana on September 2 brought together the leaders of Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan for talks that focused on economic and other issues.  

One of the most important topics on the Central Asian president’s agenda was the creation of an international consortium to manage energy and water resources in the region.

On September 1, Tajik President Emomali Rahmonov along with his counterparts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan took part at a ceremony of inauguration of Astana''s Peace and Accord Palace, which was designed by known British architect Norman Foster.  An international conference on world religions is expected to take place in this palace later this month.    

Some media report that during the Saturday informal regional summit the presidents discussed rational use of the region''s water and energy resources.  The four presidents agreed to revive the International Fund for Aral Sea, which the Central Asian states established in the mid-Nineties to stem the desiccation of the Aral Sea, which has increasingly caused health problems in the region.