Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Jan 19: The Ministry of External Affairs informed on Wednesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host the first India-Central Asia Summit in a virtual format on January 27.
The Presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan will attend the summit, according to a statement released by the MEA. This would be the first high-level meeting of its sort between India and Central Asian countries, according to the statement.
The first India-Central Asia Summit is a reflection of India’s growing engagement with the Central Asian countries, which are a part of India’s “extended neighbourhood”, the MEA said.
In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a historic trip to all of Central Asia. Following then, there have been high-level discussions at bilateral and multilateral venues. The establishment of the India-Central Asia Dialogue at the level of Foreign Ministers, whose third round was held in New Delhi from December 18-20, 2021, has given a boost to India-Central Asia relations, according to the MEA.
The participation of the secretaries of Central Asian countries’ National Security Councils in the Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan, which took place in New Delhi on November 10, 2021, outlined a shared regional strategy to Afghanistan, according to the statement.
The leaders are likely to debate strategies to elevate India-Central Asia relations to new heights during the first India-Central Asia Summit, according to the MEA.
They are also expected to share their perspectives on regional and international subjects of relevance, particularly the changing security situation in the region.
