PM Modi meets Central Asia Foreign Ministers, exchanges views on developments in the region
New Delhi, Dec 20 (FN Bureau) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met the Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and discussed ways to further strengthen India’s close partnership with Central Asia, and also exchanged views on developments in the region. In a tweet on his meeting with the Foreign Ministers, the Prime Ministers said: “Met the Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. We discussed ways to further strengthen India’s close partnership with Central Asia, and also exchanged views on developments in the region.” The Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan called on PM Modi today, a day after participating in the Third meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue here.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval were also present during the meeting with the PM. The Central Asian Foreign Ministers conveyed the greetings of their Presidents to Prime Minister Modi, and emphasized the readiness of their leadership to further strengthen relations with India. They briefed the Prime Minister on the deliberations of the India-Central Asia Dialogue held under the chairmanship of External Affairs Minister of India on December 18-19, which focused on trade and connectivity, development partnership and regional developments, including the situation in Afghanistan, an official statement said. PM 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 recalled his memorable visits to all Central Asian countries in 2015 and subsequently to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyz Republic. Prime Minister underlined the importance of maintaining cultural and people-to-people contacts between India and Central Asia, given the popularity of Indian films, music, yoga etc in the region. He also underscored the potential of enhanced economic cooperation between India and Central Asia, and the role of connectivity in that regard. 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.
The Ministers who called on PM Modi are: Russian Kazakbaev, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic; Abdulaziz Kamilov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Rashid Meredov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan; Mukhtar Tileuberdi, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic Of Kazakhstan; and Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan. On Sunday, EAM Jaishankar had convened the Third India-Central Asia Dialogue of Foreign Ministers, during which enhancing trade, connectivity, people-to-people links were discussed and to take the relations to the next level. The meeting also discussed Afghanistan, and the need for urgent humanitarian assistance to that country. The meeting with the PM comes amid reports that the leaders of the five nations are set to be the Chief Guests at the Republic Day parade in January 2022.