Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host the first India-Central Asia Summit in a virtual format on Thursday, during which the leaders are expected to deliberate on steps to take forward relations to newer heights as well as the evolving regional security situation.
The virtual summit will include the participation of five presidents -- Kazakhstan's Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Uzbekistan's Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan's Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow and Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyz Republic.
This will be the first engagement between India and the Central Asian countries at the level of leaders, the Ministry of External Affairs said.
The summit is a sign of the importance of a comprehensive and enduring India-Central Asia partnership, as it is linked to the importance of the leaders of India and the Central Asian countries.
The participation of the secretaries of National Security Councils of Central Asian countries in the Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan held in New Delhi in November last year outlined a common regional approach to Afghanistan.
A day after the Republic Day, there was no foreign head of state or government as chief guest. The leaders of the five central Asian countries were expected to be the chief guest but the countr saw a rise in COVID 19 cases which led to a curtailed Republic Day celebrations.
The MEA said that the country has grown engagement with the Central Asian countries, which are part of India's extended neighbourhood Modi visited all Central Asian countries in 2015, a reflection of the country's growing engagement with the Central Asian countries. There have been exchanges at high levels at bilateral and multilateral forums.
The leaders are expected to discuss steps to take forward India-Central Asia relations to newer heights during the summit, according to the MEA.
They are expected to exchange views on regional and international issues of interest, especially the evolving regional security situation.
The inception of the India-Central Asia Dialogue at Foreign Ministers' level, the third meeting held in New Delhi from December 18 -- 20, 2021, has given an impetus to India-Central Asia relations.