India to host Central Asian foreign ministers for regional dialogue in New Delhi

India will host the foreign ministers of five Central Asian countries on June 5–6 for the latest round of the “India–Central Asia” Foreign Ministers' Meeting, a key platform aimed at deepening strategic, economic, and regional cooperation.

The forum will convene top diplomats from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan in New Delhi, marking a significant in-person engagement following the inaugural India–Central Asia Summit held virtually in January 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In advance of the gathering, Kirti Vardhan Singh, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs and Minister of State for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, has been touring the Central Asian republics to reinforce bilateral ties and prepare the ground for high-level discussions.

Focus Areas and Strategic Importance

The meeting is expected to address a broad spectrum of priorities, including:

• Regional security and stability, particularly in the context of Afghanistan
• Energy cooperation, including renewables and oil and gas partnerships
• Trade, transport, and digital connectivity, especially under the framework of the Chabahar Port and International North-South Transport Corridor
• Cultural and academic exchanges, building on India’s civilizational links with Central Asia
• Climate change and environmental collaboration, in line with India’s global green agenda
   

Alongside the ministerial dialogue, the “India–Central Asia Business Forum” will take place on June 5, serving as the premier institutional platform for promoting trade, investment, and private sector engagement. Launched in 2020, the forum has helped foster greater economic alignment between India and the resource-rich Central Asian region.

Strengthening Multilateral Ties

The first India–Central Asia Summit, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022, resulted in the adoption of the Delhi Declaration, which emphasized a shared commitment to sustainable development, peace, and long-term regional partnership. This week’s meetings are expected to build on that foundation, with new initiatives and cooperation agreements likely to be discussed.

India’s growing outreach to Central Asia aligns with its “Connect Central Asia” policy, launched in 2012, and comes amid intensified geopolitical competition for influence in the region, particularly from China, Russia, and the United States.

The meetings in New Delhi are poised to reaffirm India’s role as a reliable partner for Central Asia’s economic diversification, infrastructure development, and regional integration.

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