On Monday, the foreign ministers of five Central Asian countries met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasising their leadership’s determination to further enhance ties with India.
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan’s foreign ministers met with Prime Minister Modi in Delhi. They’re in town to take part in the India-Central Asia Dialogue’s third meeting. The Central Asian Foreign Ministers extended Prime Minister Modi their Presidents’ greetings and emphasised their leadership’s readiness to further strengthen ties with India.
The third India-Central Asia dialogue
They informed the Prime Minister about the discussions at the India-Central Asia Dialogue, which took place on December 18-19 and was chaired by India’s External Affairs Minister, and focused on trade and connectivity, development partnerships, and regional developments, including the situation in Afghanistan.
India’s long-standing links with Central Asian countries, which are part of its ‘Extended Neighbourhood,’ were highlighted by the Prime Minister.
Given the popularity of Indian cinema, music, and yoga in the region, the Prime Minister emphasised the need of preserving cultural and people-to-people links between India and Central Asia. He also emphasised the value of increased economic cooperation between India and Central Asia, as well as the importance of connectivity in this regard.
Six countries issued a joint statement after the meeting on Sunday, reiterating their strong support for a peaceful, safe, and stable Afghanistan while emphasising respect for the country’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, as well as non-interference in its internal affairs.
They also talked about the present humanitarian situation and determined to keep providing emergency aid to Afghans. They had emphasised the importance of UN Security Council Resolution 2593 (2021), which states explicitly that Afghan land must not be used for terrorist sanctuary, training, planning, or financing, and calls for coordinated action against all terrorist organisations. The Ministers also decided to maintain close talks on the Afghan situation.
According to a report by The Indian Express, as per the statement, the PM congratulated the ministers on their 30th anniversary of independence this year.
Given the popularity of Indian cinema, music, yoga, and other forms of Indian culture in the region, the prime minister emphasised the necessity of preserving cultural and people-to-people relations between India and Central Asia, according to the statement.
“The India-Central Asia discussion has given a boost to India’s and Central Asia’s excellent bilateral relations.” Next year will commemorate the 30th anniversary of India and Central Asian countries’ diplomatic relations, according to the statement.
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