Last week, the International Conference “Topical issues of rational and efficient use of water resources and protection of the environment”, timed to “A drop of water – a grain of gold” Holiday, took place in the capital’s “Mizan” Business Center. Co-organized by the Ministry of Water Economy and the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan, the representative forum brought together more than 150 native and foreign scientists, experts from many countries of the world, as well as representatives of authoritative international organizations, our country’s leading ministries and sectoral agencies, the mass media. Topicality of the issue of rational water use in the context of the world economy development dictates the need for new forms of international interaction, given the positive experience of the UN member countries. Stressing the importance of the issue under consideration, the guests expressed confidence that the forum would promote strengthening of the fruitful dialogue and development of mutually acceptable mechanisms of multipurpose use of water resources. Today, ecological activities are becoming a significant factor of the country’s economic growth, a foundation for transition of the national economy to a principally new model of natural resources management. The innovative project – construction of the “Altyn Asyr” Turkmen Lake in the Karakum Desert is of particular importance. It serves as one of the striking examples of our country’s significant contribution to tackling of global problems related to conservation of water resources on the planet. Noteworthily, the project, which is destined to promote environmental well-being – both in the territory of Turkmenistan and the entire Central Asian region, has been highly appraised by leading scientists and experts from different countries of the world, specialists of the water management sector and agro-industrial complex. At present, water purification and desalination plants are under construction, water treatment facilities and water supply systems are being reconstructed in all velayats within the framework of “The General Program for supplying pure drinking water to settlements of Turkmenistan”. Water-efficient technologies are used more and more widely, including drip irrigation and other progressive irrigation methods. Speaking of international cooperation in this field, the forum participants have noted that our country holds the most active position, steadily advances interaction in this area, first of all with the United Nations Organization and its specialized agencies – the United Nations Development Program, the United Nations Environmental Program, as well as the European Union, the Global Environment Facility, etc. The conference attendees were introduced to a new publication – the book authored by the President of Turkmenistan “Water is a source of life and abundance”, whose presentation ceremony had taken place in the Turkmen Agricultural University. The Turkmen leader’s valuable thoughts from his speeches at international forums, congratulatory addresses on the occasion of the professional holiday of water economy workers, statements about goals and objectives of the development programs in the water economy sector aimed at the industry’s comprehensive development and modernization, environmental protection, which also showcase the impressive achievements in the agricultural sector’s progressive development, improvement of potable water supply were published in the Turkmen, English and Russian languages. Published by the Turkmen State Publishing Service, the book is noted for its high quality and original artistic design. Summing up the forum outcomes, the participants noted that, on the whole, the meeting had become the effective ground for exchanging practical experience of the countries in implementing the agreements in the sphere, and working out a common approach to strengthening international cooperation in this important field.