Africa-Press. The Egyptian Foreign Minister, Badr Abdel Atti, emphasized the importance of cooperation and integration among countries sharing transboundary rivers, rejecting any unilateral actions that may affect the rights of other nations. He stressed the necessity of adhering to international law, particularly the principle of prior notification and avoiding harm to downstream countries.
These statements were made during his meeting with Yuko Kamikawa, the special envoy of the Japanese Prime Minister, as part of the joint coordination for preparing for the “United Nations Water Conference 2026” and enhancing cooperation on water and sustainable development issues.
Abdel Atti noted that these principles apply to various international rivers, including the Nile, affirming the need to achieve mutual benefits and shared interests among all riparian states through cooperation and dialogue.
He also expressed Egypt’s eagerness to continue collaborating with Japan during the co-presidency of the third interactive dialogue of the conference, which Kamikawa will lead alongside the Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sewilam, building on the results of cooperation achieved during the 2023 United Nations Water Conference.
Abdel Atti reviewed the increasing challenges Egypt faces in the field of water resources, explaining that the government is implementing a comprehensive national strategy for water management that includes rationalizing consumption, expanding water treatment and reuse, and modernizing irrigation systems to enhance water security and address the impacts of water scarcity.
He also confirmed Cairo’s welcome to expand cooperation with Japan in areas of modern technology and water resource management, benefiting from Japanese expertise in supporting projects related to sustainable water use and achieving sustainable development goals.
