India to host Central Asian foreign ministers

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 16

India will host a meeting of Central Asian Foreign Ministers from December 18 to 20, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced here on Thursday.

The third meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue has an added significance because External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is expected to discuss the invitation to their heads of government for attending the next year’s Republic Day celebrations.

“The ministers are expected to discuss further strengthening of relations with particular focus on trade, connectivity and development cooperation as also exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. The Foreign Ministers are expected to pay a joint courtesy call on PM Narendra Modi,” said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi at an MEA briefing here on Thursday.

What’s on agenda

The foreign ministers are expected to discuss strengthening of relations with particular focus on trade, connectivity and development cooperation. —MEA  spokesperson

Asked whether the five Central Asian Presidents would attend the Republic Day parade, Bagchi said the government would announce the chief guest at a “suitable occasion and time”.

The government had earlier contemplated inviting BIMSTEC countries, but that would have meant Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing also coming to Delhi along with leaders from Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand and Sri Lanka for the Republic Day. After the sentencing of Aung Suu Kyi and others, this has become a remote possibility.