title: Evolution, opportunity and challenges of transboundary water and energy problems in Central Asia.
abstract: Central Asia is one of the regions that suffer the most prominent transboundary water and energy problems in the world. Effective transboundary water-energy resource management and cooperation are closely related with socioeconomic development and stability in the entire Central Asia. Similar to Central Asia, Northwest China has an arid climate and is experiencing a water shortage. It is now facing imbalanced supply-demand relations of water and energy resources. These issues in Northwest China and Central Asia pose severe challenges in the implementation of the Silk Road Economic Belt strategy. Based on the analysis of water and energy distribution characteristics in Central Asia as well as demand characteristics of different countries, the complexity of local transboundary water problems was explored by reviewing corresponding historical problems of involved countries, correlated energy issues, and the evolution of inter-country water-energy cooperation. With references to experiences and lessons of five countries, contradictions, opportunities, challenges and strategies for transboundary water-energy cooperation between China and Central Asia were discussed under the promotion of the Silk Road Economic Belt construction based on current cooperation conditions.
authors.affiliation: International River Research Centre, Hohai University, Nanjing, 211100 China ; Business School, Hohai University, #8 West Focheng Road, Jiangning District, Nanjing, 211100 China ; Jiangsu Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center of World Water Valley and Water Ecological Civilization, Nanjing, 211100 China.
authors.forename: Lidan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: International River Research Centre, Hohai University, Nanjing, 211100 China ; Business School, Hohai University, #8 West Focheng Road, Jiangning District, Nanjing, 211100 China ; Jiangsu Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center of World Water Valley and Water Ecological Civilization, Nanjing, 211100 China.
authors.forename: Haiwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: International River Research Centre, Hohai University, Nanjing, 211100 China ; College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098 China.
authors.forename: Ziqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: International River Research Centre, Hohai University, Nanjing, 211100 China ; College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098 China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Huang
keywords: Central Asia; Energy contradiction; Silk Road Economic Belt; Transboundary water conflict; Water-energy cooperation