1st India-Central Asia Culture Ministers’ meeting 2023

India-Central Asia Culture Ministers’ meeting 2023: it is a mechanism devised by India and central Asian countries to strengthen the cultural linkages and relations between each other. The 1^st India-Central Asia Culture Ministers’ meeting is also important for UPSC Prelims 2023 exam and UPSC Mains Exam (GS Paper 2- India and neighbourhood relations)

India-Central Asia Culture Ministers’ meeting 2023 in News

The inaugural meeting of India-Central Asia Culture Ministers was held via video conferencing on April 3rd, 2023, with Shri G. Kishan Reddy, the Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Development for the North Eastern Region, serving as the host.

1^st India-Central Asia Culture Ministers’ meeting 2023

The India-Central Asia Summit, which was hosted by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on January 27th, 2022, highlighted the importance of fostering cultural cooperation to promote a better understanding of the cultures of Central Asian countries and to reinforce the longstanding cultural ties that bind our nations together. The first India-Central Asia Culture Ministers’ meeting 2023 is a step in that direction.

• Participation: Representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, who serve as Culture Ministers, attended the India-Central Asia Culture Ministers’ meeting.
• Mandate: India-Central Asia Culture Ministers’ Meeting was held in accordance with the resolution of their leaders to enhance cultural cooperation and deepen their understanding of each other’s cultures.
  • During the meeting, the Ministers shared their views on advancing their leaders’ commitment to strengthen cultural cooperation in the region.

India-Central Asia Culture Ministers’ meeting Outcome

As the India-Central Asia Culture Ministers’ meeting drew to a close, the Indian side suggested a Joint Statement to commemorate the first India-Central Asia Culture Ministers’ Meeting.

• The attendees expressed their willingness to promptly confirm their agreement and to continue holding such meetings at regular intervals.
• India urged for the recognition of the shared historical, traditional, and ancient ties between the Central Asian countries and to work together to reinforce these cultural connections.

First India-Central Asia Virtual Summit

The first India-Central Asia Summit 2022 coincided with the 30thanniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Central Asian countries. A comprehensive Joint Declaration was adopted by the leaders that enumerate their common vision for an enduring and comprehensive India-Central Asia partnership.

• Institutionalization of India-Central Asia Summit: India and central Asian Countries agreed to institutionalize the Summit mechanism by deciding to hold India-Central Asia Summit every 2 years.

• • They also agreed on regular meetings of Foreign Ministers, Trade Ministers, Culture Ministers and Secretaries of the Security Council to prepare the groundwork for the Summit meetings.
• India-Central Asia Secretariat: At First India-Central Asia Virtual Summit, it was decided to set up an India-Central Asia Secretariat in New Delhi to support the new India-Central Asia Summit mechanism.

First India-Central Asia Summit

India-Central Asia Summit was held virtually between India and Central Asian Countries. Key focus areas of the summit are discussed below-

• Cooperation in Other Areas: At the first India-Central Asia Virtual Summit, the leaders discussed proposals to further cooperation in areas of trade and connectivity, development cooperation, defence and security and, cultural and people-to-people contacts. These include-
  • Round-Table on Energy and Connectivity;
  • Joint Working Groups at senior official level on Afghanistan and use of Chabahar Port;
  • Showcasing of Buddhist exhibitions in Central Asian countries,
  • Commissioning of an India-Central Asia dictionary of common words,
  • Joint counter-terrorism exercises,
  • Visit of 100 members youth delegation annually from Central Asian countries to India and
  • Special courses for Central Asian diplomats.
• Discussion on Afghanistan Situation: The leaders reiterated their strong support for a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan with a truly representative and inclusive government.
  • Prime Minister conveyed India’s continued commitment to providing humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people.

India-Central Asia Summit | First India-Central Asia Summit Held Virtually