At the bilateral level, India has close relations with all the Central Asian countries

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that cooperation between India and Central Asia is essential for regional security and prosperity.

Central Asia was central to India’s vision of an integrated and stable extended neighbourhood, Prime Minister Modi pointed out while hosting the 1st India-Central Asia Summit with the participation of the Presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The Summit, organized in a virtual format, was attended by President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, tPresident of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Prime Minister Modi in his welcome remarks at Thursday’s event outlined the three main objectives of the Summit.

“Today's summit has three main objectives. First, to make it clear that cooperation between India and Central Asia is essential for regional security and prosperity,” he said. “From Indian point of view, I would like to emphasise that Central Asia is central to India’s vision of an integrated and stable extended neighbourhood,” he added.

“The second objective is to give an effective structure to our cooperation. This will establish a framework of regular interactions at different levels and among various stakeholders,” he stated.

“And, the third objective is to create an ambitious roadmap for our cooperation. Through this, we will be able to adopt an integrated approach for regional connectivity and cooperation for the next 30 years,” the Prime Minister mentioned.

“Through this, we will be able to adopt an integrated approach for regional connectivity and cooperation for the next 30 years,” he explained.

Welcoming all leaders to the first India-Central Asia Summit, PM Modi said, the diplomatic relations between India and Central Asia countries have completed 30 meaningful years.

“Our cooperation has achieved many successes over the past three decades. And now, at this crucial juncture, we must define an ambitious vision for the coming years as well,” he pointed out.

“A vision that can fulfil the aspirations of our people, especially the younger generation, in the changing world,” Modi noted.

The timing of the Summit was significant as the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and the five Central Asian nations is being celebrated this year.

Prime Minister Modi used the occasion to refer to India's close relations with all the Central Asian countries at the bilateral level.

“Kazakhstan has become a vital partner for India's energy security. I express my condolences for the recent loss of life and property in Kazakhstan,” the Indian PM said.

“Our state governments are also active partners in our growing cooperation with Uzbekistan. This includes my home state of Gujarat as well,” he informed informed.

“India has an active partnership with Kyrgyzstan in the field of education and high-altitude research. Thousands of Indian students are studying there,” Modi stated.

“With Tajikistan, we have a longstanding cooperation in the field of security. And we are continuously strengthening it,” he added.

“Turkmenistan is an important part of Indian vision in the field of regional connectivity, which is evident from our participation in the Ashgabat Agreement,” PM Modi maintained.

“We all have the same concerns and objectives for regional security. We are all concerned about the developments in Afghanistan,” he remarked.

“In this context also, our mutual cooperation has become even more important for regional security and stability,” the India Prime Minister said.

Briefing the media after the summit, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs Reenat Sandhu said there has been a strong momentum in India's relations with the Central Asian countries, both bilaterally and at the multilateral level, after the Prime Minister's historic visit to all the five nations in 2015.