The Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan called Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is on a visit for the third meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue. The Ministers emphasized the readiness of their leadership to further strengthen relations with India.
The Central Asian Foreign Ministers conveyed the greeting of their respective Presidents to the Prime Minister. They talked about the deliberations of the Dialogue that was held on 18-19 December 2021 under the chairmanship of External Affairs Minister of India, S Jaishankar. The Dialogue focused on trade and connectivity, development partnership and regional developments, including the situation in Afghanistan.
Modi emphasized the importance that India attaches to its long-standing relations with Central Asian countries, which are part of its ‘Extended Neighbourhood’. He conveyed his felicitations to the Ministers on the 30th anniversary of their independence this year.
He also recalled his memorable visits to all Central Asian countries in 2015 and subsequently to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyz Republic. Modi underlined the importance of maintaining cultural and people-to-people contacts between India and Central Asia, given the popularity of Indian films, music, yoga in the region.
The India-Central Asia Dialogue has given impetus to the excellent bilateral relations between India and Central Asian countries. India and the Central Asian countries will mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations next year.
