New Delhi

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar will host the third meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue in New Delhi from December 18-20 to strengthen relations between the members, with particular focus on trade, connectivity and development cooperation.

Foreign Ministers of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are are scheduled to take part in the dialogue.

"External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar will be hosting the third meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue in New Delhi from Dec 18-20. Foreign Ministers of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan will participate in the meeting," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

"The ministers are expected to discuss further strengthening of relations between India and central Asian countries but a particular focus on trade, connectivity and development cooperation. They will also exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest," Bagchi added.

The foreign ministers of Central Asian countries are expected to pay a joint courtesy visit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The second dialogue was held through video conferencing in October 2020 .

"There has been ongoing engagement between India and five Central Asian countries over the last few years. India considers Central Asia as part of its extended neighbourhood. EAM visited Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan this year. He also met the foreign minister of Turkmenistan this year," the MEA spokesperson said.

"The holding of the India-Central Asia Dialogue is symbolic of the interest on part of all member countries for greater engagements between them in a spirit of friendship, trust and mutual understanding," he added.