Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Minister of Ecology Aziz Abdukhakimov held a meeting with Director of the Regional Bureau of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for Europe and the CIS Ivana Zivkovic.

During the meeting, an exchange of views took place on the implementation of joint projects and initiatives in the field of environmental protection in the country, as well as on further strengthening cooperation in promising areas.

The importance of a gradual transition to a "green" economy, the widespread introduction of digital technologies, improving environmental education and culture, and building human resources was also emphasized.

Aziz Abdukhakimov especially noted the large-scale work carried out by the UN to improve the environmental situation in the Aral Sea region. In particular, a special resolution of the UN General Assembly, adopted on the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, aimed at turning the Aral Sea region into a zone of environmental innovations and technologies, was highly appreciated.

During the meeting, issues of implementing a number of projects aimed at preserving and financing biodiversity, restoring ecosystems in the Aral Sea region, protecting the ozone layer and mitigating the effects of climate change were discussed.

Ivana Zivkovic highly appreciated the initiative to hold the 14th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP-14) and the 25th session of the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in Samarkand, and also expressed her readiness to take an active part in these events.