China held the Central Asia Summit virtually two days ago and India too has stepped in with Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitching for an integrated approach for regional connectivity and cooperation for the coming 30 years. Modi also flagged Afghanistan as a common concern and stated that their mutual concern is significant for the region’s security and stability.
PM Modi, at the first virtual meeting with the Central Asian leaders, said that they all share the same concerns and objectives for regional security and are concerned about the recent developments in Afghanistan. He further added that their cooperation has become more important in this context for the stability and security of the region.
The summit saw the participation of Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon, Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, and the President of Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov. This was one of the kind summits that happened for the first time between the leaders of Central Asian nations and India.
A summit with the leaders of the Central Asian countries was held with China on January 25 at very short notice, after India had announced this summit that was held yesterday. Chinese President Xi Jinping, during the summit, had offered the assistance of USD 500 million to the region and had substantiated to strengthen trade with the Central Asian nations.
PM Modi underlined the three main objectives of the summit yesterday. He said that the first objective is to make it clear that the cooperation between the Central Asian countries and India is necessary for regional security and prosperity. He stressed that from the Indian point of view, Central Asia is central to the vision of an integrated and stable extended neighbourhood.
The second objective mentioned by Modi was to give an effective structure to the cooperation between Central Asia and India. This will aid in the establishment of a framework allowing them to interact regularly at different levels and among various stakeholders.
The third objective was to create an ambitious roadmap for their cooperation. He further added that through these objectives they will be able to adopt an integrated approach for regional cooperation and connectivity in the next 30 years. He said that the diplomatic relations between Central Asian countries and India have completed meaningful 30 years and this crucial juncture they must set ambitious goals for the coming years as well.
The virtual summit is being held a day after the 73rd Republic day celebrations with no head of state or government as the chief guest this year. The five leaders from the Central Asian countries were most likely to be the chief guests but in the wake of the surge in infections in the nation, the celebrations were curtailed.
