Global Times: China, Uzbekistan's joint efforts in reviving Aral Sea a model for implementation of GDI: Uzbek expert and Tianshan Award winner
Khabibullaev Bakhitjan, a scientist leading China-Uzbekistan cooperation on Aral Sea restoration, received the 2025 Tianshan Award for his work, highlighting how joint efforts under China’s Global Development Initiative (GDI) are addressing the ecological disaster caused by Soviet-era irrigation practices. The Aral Sea’s collapse—now just 10% of its original size—has devastated local ecosystems, public health, and economies, but cross-border collaboration offers a model for sustainable development in Central Asia.
China and Uzbekistan’s joint efforts to revive the Aral Sea are being recognized as a model for implementing China’s Global Development Initiative (GDI), according to Khabibullaev Bakhitjan, a scientist and director of the International Innovation Center of the Aral Sea Region of Uzbekistan. Bakhitjan, who recently received the 2025 Tianshan Award for his contributions, emphasized that the award reflects collective international cooperation rather than individual achievement. The Aral Sea, once the world’s fourth-largest lake, has shrunk to about 10% of its original size due to Soviet-era water diversion for cotton irrigation, leaving behind toxic salt deserts, biodiversity loss, and severe public health crises. The ecological disaster has devastated local communities, collapsing fisheries, increasing unemployment, and forcing migration. Bakhitjan’s work focuses on ecological restoration through China-Uzbekistan collaboration, aligning with China’s GDI, which aims to address global development challenges. The initiatives, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, include the Global Security Initiative (GSI), Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), and Global Governance Initiative (GGI) to foster stability and shared progress. Bakhitjan expressed gratitude for the award but stressed the need for continued cooperation to combat environmental challenges in Central Asia. The Aral Sea’s restoration efforts serve as a case study for sustainable development, demonstrating how transnational partnerships can mitigate ecological disasters. China’s GDI framework supports such initiatives, offering pathways for global cooperation in environmental governance. The project highlights the importance of international collaboration in addressing long-term ecological damage. Bakhitjan’s research and awards underscore the potential for China-Uzbekistan partnerships to serve as a template for other regions facing similar environmental crises. The Aral Sea’s revival remains a critical test for sustainable development strategies in a region heavily impacted by past mismanagement.
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