3rd Meeting of Foreign Ministers of ‘Central Asia-India’ Dialogue takes place

NEW DELHI. KAZINFORM - In the capital of India, New Delhi, at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of India Subramanyam Jaishankar, Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Tileuberdi attended the 3rd Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the «Central Asia – India» Dialogue, Kazinform has learnt from the press service of the Kazakh MFA.

The event was also attended by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Ruslan Kazakbaev, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan Sirodjiddin Mukhriddin, as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov.

During the meeting, the foreign ministers discussed promising areas of multilateral cooperation and issues of increasing the efficiency of economic interaction, including in mutual trade, investment, industry branches and transport connectivity with India.

The participants noted the importance of joint response to modern challenges and threats. They analyzed the ways of solving environmental problems in the region, preventing transnational threats, as well as strengthening cultural exchange. Particular attention was paid to the implementation of joint projects in the Central Asian region and the priority areas of this Dialogue were outlined.

In his speech, the Head of the Kazakh delegation noted the importance of strengthening interaction between the countries, stressed the need to improve the institutional mechanisms of this forum, diversify interregional trade, develop transit routes and green energy, as well as intensify cooperation in such promising areas as financial technology, digitalization and the IT industry.

As a result of the Forum, a Joint Statement by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Central Asia - India Dialogue was adopted.

The same day, Kazakh Foreign Minister held bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart S.Jaishankar, during which the sides discussed a wide range of issues on the bilateral, regional agenda, and outlined ways to further deepen the strategic partnership between the countries, including upcoming contacts at the highest and high levels.

A collective meeting of the foreign ministers of Central Asian countries with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected.