DUSHANBE, August 15, 2013, Asia-Plus -- Toda-date, 70 member nations of the United Nations have confirmed their participation in the High-Level International Conference on Water Cooperation that will take place here from August 20-21, according to the Tajik MFA information department.

Some 30 countries are expected to be represented at the level of ministers.  A number of countries of Asia and Africa will participate in the conference at the level of heads of government.  Besides, senior representatives of nineteen international and regional organizations will attend the conference.

The United Nations is expected to be represented by seven under-secretary-generals, including heads of UNESCO, UNDP, ECE (Economic Commission for Europe), World Bank, World Meteorological Organization, etc.

Heads and senior representatives of the CIS, OSCE, SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization, OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation), ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization), Energy Charter, and World Water Council will also attend the Dushanbe water conference.

In all, more than 900 people are expected to participate in the High-Level International Conference on Water Cooperation in Dushanbe.

The Conference reportedly aims to spur water cooperation, in particular at trans-boundary level, through the promotion of successful policies and best practices, wider public participation, and the encouragement of policy makers to support water cooperation at all levels to achieve internationally agreed goals on water.  The Conference also gives an opportunity to discuss and develop new measures to accelerate the efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and recommendations for further actions after 2015, including contribution to the development of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to water.