Indian President’s visit to Central Asian country Turkmenistan
Recently, India-Turkmenistan has signed four MoUs/Cooperation Programs in the following areas: Disaster Management, Financial Intelligence, Culture and Youth Affairs.
- It may be noted that the President of India is on a visit to the Central Asian country of Turkmenistan. During this he reiterated that connectivity with Central Asian countries is a major priority for India.
- He also inaugurated an “India Corner” at the Institute for International Relations in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
India’s relations with Central Asia
- Central Asia is part of India’s extended neighborhood. India has strategic relations with most of the countries of Central Asia.
- In January 2022, India hosted the first India Central Asia Summit.
- It was organized to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Central Asia.
- India is a member of both the “International North-South Transport Corridor: INSTC” and the Ashgabat Agreement.
- India has taken steps to expand connectivity through Chabahar port in Iran. This port will provide safe, viable and unhindered access to sea for Central Asian countries.
- The India Central Asia Dialogue at the level of Foreign Ministers is being organized annually since 2019.
- India will undertake high-impact community development projects for socio-economic development in Central Asia. Therefore, India has signed a MoU to provide grant-in-aid for the implementation of these projects.
Source – The Hindu
