Second meeting of India- Central Asia Dialogue held via videoconference

Bishkek, Oct. 29, 2020. /Kabar/. Kyrgyzstan’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Nuran Niyazaliyev took part in a second meeting of Foreign Ministers of the India-Central Asia Dialogue in the format of videoconference held on Oct. 28. Foreign ministers of Central Asia and India, as well as acting minister of foreign affairs of Afghanistan participated in the Dialogue. The high-level meeting discussed issues of economic, transport and transit, cultural and humanitarian cooperation. At the same time, the cooperation issue of the region in combating coronavirus pandemic was considered. In his speech, First Deputy Minister Niyazaliyev briefed on domestic political transformations in the Kyrgyz Republic, emphasizing the stabilization of the situation and further development of cooperation with partner countries, friendly states and international organizations. He also proposed the development of intercultural dialogue between the youth of Central Asia and India, which would contribute to mutual spiritual enrichment, expansion of outlook, as well as education of youth cultural diversity, inter-ethnic and interfaith tolerance. In order to strengthen trade and economic cooperation between the countries of the Dialogue, Niyazaliyev attached importance to the creation of favorable trade conditions, removal of barriers between the countries and creation of transport and logistics centers, stressing the urgency of assistance on these issues from the newly established India-Central Asia Business Council. In addition, the Kyrgyz side proposed to hold joint tourism events both in India and Central Asian countries after the epidemiological situation has improved and regular flights are resumed. As a result, the sides adopted a Joint Statement of the Second Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the India-Central Asia Dialogue with participation of Afghanistan.