Dushanbe: India on Friday reaffirmed its commitment to Central Asia as its extended neighbourhood, and a key partner in regional connectivity, security and prosperity.
Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, made these remarks in a conference on "Central Asia - The Core of SCO: A Space of Peace and Joint Development" in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Singh reaffirmed India's commitment to its partnership with Central Asia and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
"Highlighted India's priorities in the SCO, including youth engagement, cultural exchanges and strengthening regional connectivity and civilisational linkages," Singh said in a post on X.
Singh also announced that India would host the first SCO Civilisation Dialogue Forum in Kolkata next month.
India recognises Central Asia as its extended neighbourhood, and a key partner in promoting regional connectivity, security and prosperity, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release on Wednesday in New Delhi.
The conference is being hosted by Tajikistan, which currently holds the chair of the SCO Heads of Government Council.
Singh, who arrived in Dushanbe on Thursday, is on a two-day official visit to Tajikistan and is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with counterparts from SCO member states on the sidelines of the conference.
SCO is a Eurasian political, economic and security alliance founded in 2001, currently comprising nine member states, including India, China, Russia, Pakistan and several Central Asian nations.
New Delhi has used its engagement with the bloc to deepen connectivity and security ties with Central Asia while navigating its complex relationships with fellow members China and Pakistan.
