India and Central Asian countries have expressed interest in joint exploration of rare earth and critical minerals. In the Joint Statement released following the 4th meeting of India-Central Asia Dialogue held in New Delhi yesterday under the chairship of External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, the participating nations encouraged exchange of delegations to explore new areas of cooperation in critical minerals.

 

 

 

Foreign Affairs Ministers of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan attended the meeting. Appreciating the outcomes of the first India-Central Asia Rare Earth Forum held in September last year in New Delhi, the Ministers called upon the relevant authorities to hold the second India-Central Asia Rare Earth Forum meeting at the earliest convenience.

 

 

 

In the Joint Statement, India and Central Asian countries also emphasized the importance of greater financial connectivity between them, particularly through digital payment systems.

 

 

 

In the Joint Statement of 4th India-Central Asia Dialogue, the nations called for enhanced interbank relations, and trade in national currencies to encourage greater trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. Recognising the important role of financial and banking linkages, they also expressed interest to establish a Joint Working Group to explore ways to further deepen banking and financial connectivity between India and Central Asian partners.

 

 

 

Foreign Affairs Ministers unequivocally condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. They reiterated their strong commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. They stressed that perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of terrorist acts must be held accountable and brought to justice. India and Central Asian partners called for early adoption of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. They stressed the need to strengthen UN-led global counter-terrorism cooperation and fully implement the relevant UNSC resolutions, Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and FATF standards.

 

 

 

The Ministers emphasized optimum usage of the International North-South Transport Corridor to enhance connectivity between India and the Central Asian countries. They stressed that connectivity initiatives should be based on the principles of transparency, broad participation, local priorities, and financial sustainability.