'Central Asia Is Crucial To India's Vision Of A Secure Neighbourhood,': PM Modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that Central  Asia is crucial to India's aim of a connected and peaceful extended neighbourhood as he convened the first India-Central Asia Summit in a virtual format. 

"We are all concerned about the Afghan situation," Modi said in his opening remarks at the Summit. "This makes cooperation between India and Central Asia all the more important for regional stability and security." 

Five presidents took part in the virtual summit: Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow of Turkmenistan, and Sadyr Japarov of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The prime minister urged the development of an ambitious vision for India-Central Asia collaboration in the coming years.

Modi stated that bilateral collaboration between India and Central Asia is critical for regional security and prosperity. 

This is the first high-level meeting of its sort between India and the Central Asian countries

According to the MEA, the first India-Central Asia Summit reflects the country's increased involvement with Central Asian countries, which are part of India's "extended neighbourhood."

In 2015, Modi visited all of the Central Asian countries. Following then, there have been high-level discussions at bilateral and multilateral venues.