The first India-Central Asia Dialogue

The first India-Central Asia Dialogue took place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on 12th and 13th January, 2019. It was co-chaired by Abdulaziz Kamilov, Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan and Sushma Swaraj, External Affairs Minister of India. Other participants included the foreign ministers of Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan as well as the First Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan.
 
Within the context of cultural linkages and shared history between India, Afghanistan and the Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan), this dialogue focused on improving bilateral relations across a range of regional issues. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s landmark visit to all five Central Asian countries in 2015, to deepen India’s engagement in the hydrocarbon-rich region, laid emphasis upon Central Asia’s significance vis-à-vis India.
 
The objectives of the India-Central Asia Dialogue were:

• Enhancement of cooperation across wide-ranging areas, including the exploration of multiple ways to substantially strengthen India’s economic involvement in the sectors of business and development in Central Asia
• Development of viable options of connectivity between India, Central Asia and Afghanistan, to facilitate increased trade and economic activities in the region
• Boost India’s engagement with all the Central Asian countries, in the form of economic, cultural, political and development partnerships

 
During the dialogue, India proposed the establishment of the “India-Central Asia Development Group”, to carry forward development partnerships, between the Central Asian countries and India. All the countries will be represented in this G2G group and will be requested to suggest various concrete proposals. India put forth several proposals for the enhancement of cultural cooperation as well as capacity building/training programmes for specific candidates in Central Asia.
 
While addressing the first session, Swaraj said that “I would like to specifically point out that our region is facing serious challenges posed by terrorism. India, Central Asia and Afghanistan are societies which are tolerant and plural. The ideology of hate which the terrorists would like to spread has no place in our societies.We also need to ask that who these terrorists are, who funds them, how do they find sustenance, who protects and sponsors them.”
 
Swaraj further emphasized that the scourge of terrorism needs to be effectively fought collaboratively, in order to promote investments and businesses in the region, as terrorism erodes all possible avenues of development in a country. Swaraj offered that India would share expertise and extend partnerships, undertaken via lines of credit and buyers’ credit, based on concrete projects, to facilitate efficient connectivity (transit routes) by leveraging geographical proximity as well as realizing the full growth potential of the region by utilising existing opportunities and developing innovative solutions.
 
This meeting has set the tone for a new era of relations between Central Asia and India, while reaffirming old ties as natural partners. By allowing for extensive discussions that presented opportunities to review the overall gamut of Indian-Central Asian relations, it has laid the foundation for a modern and comprehensive partnership based on intensified engagements. The second India-Central Asia Dialogue will be hosted by India in 2020, with the participation of Afghanistan at the foreign ministers’ level.
 
India Outbound
January 14, 2019
 
 

source https://indiaoutbound.org/the-first-india-central-asia-dialogue/