Hungarian Water Partnership Strengthens Eurasian Water Cooperation at ASEM Water 2024
The Hungarian Water Partnership (HWP) played an active role in the 6th ASEM Water International Conference, held in Changsha, China, in October 2024. The event focused on international knowledge exchange, professional cooperation and sustainable approaches to water management across Europe and Asia, and was co-organised by HWP.
The conference built on the international commitment to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with particular emphasis on economically sustainable, affordable and bankable water infrastructure solutions.
HWP at the centre of professional dialogue
Dr. Károly Kovács, President of the Hungarian Water Partnership, represented HWP at the conference and contributed to the programme in several roles.
At the invitation of the organisers, he delivered a welcome address at the opening of the event and chaired the plenary session on Integrated Governance of the Urban Water Environment. He also participated as a keynote speaker, presenting approaches to economically and financially sustainable water-sector development.
His presentation emphasised the importance of an integrated approach to infrastructure planning and the need to consider life-cycle costs, affordability and long-term financial sustainability when developing water projects.
These principles are increasingly relevant both in Europe and Asia, where utilities and governments face the combined pressures of ageing infrastructure, urbanisation, climate change and limited investment resources.
Affordable and bankable water solutions
A central theme of the conference was the economic sustainability of municipal water-sector development.
Discussions focused particularly on solutions that are:
affordable for utilities and communities,
financially sustainable over their full life cycle,
capable of attracting investment,
cost-effective to operate, and
adaptable to local conditions.
These principles closely align with HWP’s international activities and with the technologies and expertise represented by its member companies.
Hungarian water-sector solutions based on similar economic and technical approaches have already been introduced in several Asian markets, including Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia and India.
For HWP, these references demonstrate that Hungarian expertise can offer practical solutions not only in established European markets, but also in rapidly developing regions where infrastructure needs are substantial and affordability remains a key consideration.
Connecting Hungarian expertise with Asian partners
ASEM Water provides an important platform for connecting European and Asian water-sector institutions, research organisations, universities, government bodies and professional associations.
For HWP and its member companies, participation in this network supports:
professional knowledge exchange,
identification of potential project opportunities,
international research and development cooperation,
technology transfer,
capacity building, and
stronger access to Asian water markets.
HWP’s involvement therefore goes beyond participation in individual conferences. It forms part of a longer-term effort to strengthen the international position of Hungarian water expertise and connect export-oriented Hungarian technologies with partners across Eurasia.
HWP leadership within ASEM Water
Alongside the conference, the ASEM Water Academic and Development Committee held its official meeting.
The meeting was chaired by Dr. Károly Kovács in his role as Vice-Chair of the Committee, reflecting Hungary’s active participation in the development of Eurasian water cooperation.
ASEM Water was established as a permanent water research and development cooperation mechanism under the wider Asia-Europe Meeting framework. It brings together governmental organisations, agencies, research institutions, universities and professional organisations interested in water-resource protection and sustainable water management.
Hungary participates actively in this cooperation through its governmental representation and through the Hungarian Water Partnership.
From strategic dialogue to practical action
An important outcome of the conference was the preparation of a joint declaration reflecting the main themes and professional conclusions discussed during the event.
In addition to identifying major global water challenges and areas requiring international cooperation, the declaration also set out practical actions that water-sector actors can implement in the shorter term.
This practical orientation closely reflects HWP’s approach to international cooperation: combining strategic professional dialogue with technologies, financing models and implementation experience that can contribute to measurable results.
For the Hungarian Water Partnership, the ASEM Water Conference is therefore both a professional forum and a platform for connecting Hungarian water-sector knowledge with international development needs.
Through its active role in ASEM Water and the participation of its member companies across Asian markets, HWP will continue to promote Hungarian expertise in sustainable water infrastructure, cost-efficient development and long-term international cooperation.
