TURKMENBASHI /Turkmenistan/, October 9. /TASS/. Russia is developing a program to study the Caspian Sea through 2030 and also plans to create a digital twin of the lake using AI to forecast changes in water levels, President Vladimir Putin stated.

He also called the Caspian Environmental Summit a timely and useful initiative.

In addition, Putin emphasized that Moscow attaches the highest priority to working with partners to protect the Caspian Sea’s ecosystem.

TASS has compiled the Russian leader’s key statements.

Russia is developing a program to study the Caspian Sea through 2030: "The Russian government is preparing a comprehensive program to study changes in the Caspian Sea’s water level and minimize their negative consequences. The program is designed to run through 2030. It provides for numerous studies, the results of which will be shared with all relevant agencies."

Moscow also plans to create a digital twin of the Caspian Sea using AI to forecast changes in water levels: "I would also like to mention Russia’s proposal to create a digital twin of the Caspian Sea. This involves a high-precision virtual model that utilizes AI algorithms based on an analysis of evaporation, precipitation, and the riverine layer dynamics. With the help of this model, we can calculate reliable scenarios for changes in the Caspian Sea’s water level."

The model could also be used to refine navigation routes and improve shipping safety.

Russia "places the highest priority" on working with partners to protect the Caspian Sea ecosystem: "The government, businesses, civil society organizations, and a broad range of relevant scientists and specialists are actively involved in this work."

Moscow will always advocate for developing and strengthening interstate cooperation to preserve the Caspian region's ecosystem: "Russia has always advocated and will continue to advocate for strengthening and developing cooperation among our states to preserve the Caspian region's ecosystem, ensure its sustainable growth, and improve people's quality of life."

A key area of cooperation among Caspian countries is the prudent use of the lake’s water resources.

Moscow is committed to working with all Caspian countries to reduce water losses, optimize water usage, and modernize irrigation systems and pumping stations.

Russian companies have expertise in every aspect of water management: designing and constructing canals and waterways, organizing industrial water recycling, digitally managing water bodies, and space-based monitoring of irrigation networks and areas of water loss.

"Large-scale efforts to preserve the Caspian ecosystem require not only financial investment and intergovernmental mechanisms, but also highly qualified personnel with expertise across a wide range of disciplines and the natural sciences. Training such professionals is a highly pressing task. I would like to note that an international educational program dedicated to the comprehensive study of the Caspian Sea is launching at the Sirius National University of Science and Technology in Russia."

As part of this program, young professionals will have the opportunity to explore real-world challenges in the fields of ecology, economics, and innovation.

Holding the Caspian Environmental Summit is a "timely and useful initiative": "This is truly important because my colleagues and I agree that the Caspian Sea is of immense natural, economic, transportation, and cultural and historical significance to us all, as it is one of the cradles of European civilization."