As part of the Eco Expo Central Asia 2026 exhibition at the Silk Road Samarkand complex, a series of events dedicated to expanding cooperation between Uzbekistan and Japan took place. The main focus was on climate resilience, rational water use, environmental innovations, and the development of sustainable agriculture in the Aral Sea region. The central event was the Japan–Uzbekistan Blue & Green Nexus side event, where scientific approaches to climate change adaptation and environmental risk reduction were discussed.
Within the SATREPS program, with the participation of JICA and JST, joint scientific initiatives were presented. Scientists from Kyoto University proposed solutions for monitoring water resources and improving their efficiency in the Aral Sea basin. Special attention was paid to projects for the production of "green" and "blue" hydrogen as part of the carbon neutrality strategy and the transition to low-carbon energy.
The training of specialists in ecology and climate adaptation at the Central Asian University for Environmental Studies was also discussed. A separate block was dedicated to sustainable cotton farming and ecological agriculture, including initiatives by MASUI Corp. and projects by the OISCA organization in Uzbekistan, aimed at introducing more responsible agricultural technologies and developing local communities.