Budapest Water Summit issues closing statement

The Budapest Water Summit was concluded on Wednesday with a closing statement, underlining the fact that water is the most critical of all natural resources.

Andras Szollosi-Nagy, President of the UNESCO International Hydrological Program presented the closing statement, which set out a plan of action coordinated with the United Nations' sustainable development targets and called for the various sectors to cooperate.

Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, who is a biodiversity scientist, co-chair of the High Level Panel on Water, and President of Mauritius, underlined how water was a bond that could resolve urgent problems in many parts of the world.

The meeting, she said, produced a number of important guidelines that are vital to sustainable development and will offer global leaders true assistance.

Organizers said that the primary objective of the summit, a valuable diplomatic, scientific, and economic forum, was to design proposals for moving toward the water management objectives outlined by the Budapest Summit of 2013 and attaining the goals included in the United Nations Development Program.

The three-day summit was attended by heads of state and government, ministers, scientists, and leaders of the business and financial worlds of 117 countries and regions.

The gathering included 52 panel discussions, 16 sidelines programs, and multiple civil, science, women and youth forums.

There was also a meeting of the High Level Panel on Water consisting of 11 sitting heads of state and government, and one special advisor, established by the World Bank and the United Nations. Endit