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TEHRAN, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Iran and Australia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on water management and optimal utilization of water resources, semi-official Meher news agency reported on Wednesday.
The document was signed here on Tuesday by Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian and visiting Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Steven Ciobo.
The MOU envisages transfer of technology and technical know-how to Iran, cooperation on optimal use of water and joint research programs.
At the signing ceremony, Chitchian said that due to similar climate features in Iran and Australia, there are many areas for cooperation between the two countries.
Chitchian expressed the hope that two countries boost cooperation in private and public sectors.
For his part, Ciobo said that Australian and Iranian public and private spheres can effectively cooperate in the management of water shortages and saving water.
Iran and South Africa signed a similar document in April to cooperate on water resources management.
Earlier, Chitchian said that water crisis has become a very serious and complicated problem facing Iran.
"It is so serious and complicated a problem that the solution requires the collective efforts of Iranian authorities as well as public and private sectors," Chitchian was quoted as saying by official IRNA news agency.
He blamed the worsening water crisis on climate change and excessive use of water for sanitation, agriculture and industry, and on improper water use of the public.
Many lakes, water wells and other water sources have dried up in the country over the past decade, Chitchian said.
A recent study conducted by the World Resources Institute ranked Iran as the world's 24th most water-stressed nation.
