Key facts
- India views Central Asia as a key partner for regional connectivity, security, and prosperity.
- Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh attended the 'Central Asia - The Core of SCO' conference in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
- India's priorities within the SCO include youth engagement, cultural exchanges, and strengthening regional connectivity.
- India will host the first SCO Civilisation Dialogue Forum in Kolkata next month.
- Singh held bilateral meetings with counterparts from SCO member states during his visit.
India has reaffirmed its commitment to Central Asia, viewing the region as an extended neighborhood and a vital partner for connectivity, security, and prosperity. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh articulated these priorities at the 'Central Asia - The Core of SCO: A Space of Peace and Joint Development' conference in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Singh highlighted India's focus within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on areas such as youth engagement, cultural exchanges, and reinforcing regional connectivity and civilisational linkages. He announced that India would host the inaugural SCO Civilisation Dialogue Forum in Kolkata in the upcoming month.
During his two-day official visit to Tajikistan, Singh also engaged in bilateral meetings with representatives from other SCO member states on the sidelines of the main conference. The SCO, established in 2001, is a significant Eurasian alliance encompassing nine member states, including India, China, Russia, Pakistan, and several Central Asian nations.