The event served as a high-level platform for discussing ongoing reforms in Uzbekistan regarding the environmentally sound management of hazardous chemicals, in accordance with the country's international obligations under the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions.

Welcoming remarks were delivered by Aziz Abdukhakimov, Advisor to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Environmental Issues and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change; Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions; Akiko Fujii, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Uzbekistan; as well as representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the European Union, and international partner organizations.

"Today, Central Asia is gradually shaping a new culture of environmental cooperation based on trust, scientific interaction, shared responsibility, and the understanding that the environmental security of the region is our common task. We propose establishing a unified regional platform in Central Asia for the management of pesticides, hazardous chemicals, and waste, which will allow us to strengthen coordination, knowledge exchange, and the implementation of joint projects," said Aziz Abdukhakimov.

During the event, participants discussed the development of a comprehensive approach to managing hazardous chemicals and pesticides. This includes improving the regulatory framework, strengthening institutional capacity, developing monitoring and laboratory control systems, and implementing sustainable agricultural practices. Special attention was paid to the inventory of obsolete pesticides, hazardous waste management, preventing environmental pollution by persistent organic pollutants (POPs and PFAS), and mitigating the risks associated with the use of highly hazardous pesticides.

As part of the technical session, FAO representatives presented approaches to establishing a holistic pesticide life-cycle management system in Uzbekistan. This encompasses measures to prevent the accumulation of hazardous chemicals, develop waste disposal infrastructure, and promote safe agricultural practices.

Furthermore, UNDP representatives introduced the planned activities of a new project on persistent organic pollutants under the Stockholm Convention, which is aimed at addressing the problems of contaminated areas and remediating accumulated environmental damage.

During the discussion, priority directions for future work were identified, including the development of hazardous waste disposal infrastructure, the improvement of monitoring and laboratory control systems, reducing agriculture's reliance on hazardous pesticides, and promoting sustainable plant protection methods.