Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh will undertake a two-day official visit to Tajikistan from June 12 to 13 to participate in a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conference focused on strengthening peace and development in Central Asia.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the conference, titled “Central Asia – The Core of SCO: A Space of Peace and Joint Development”, is being hosted by Tajikistan, which currently holds the chairmanship of the SCO Heads of Government Council.

The theme of the conference aligns closely with India’s priorities within the SCO, particularly in the areas of youth engagement, culture and civilisation. India views Central Asia as part of its extended neighbourhood and considers the region a key partner in promoting connectivity, security and economic prosperity.

During the conference, Singh is expected to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from other SCO member states.

India Expands Engagement With Central Asia

India has steadily strengthened its engagement with Central Asian countries in recent years through diplomatic, economic and cultural initiatives.

The upcoming visit comes amid growing emphasis on enhancing regional cooperation through multilateral platforms such as the SCO. New Delhi has consistently highlighted the importance of connectivity, stability and people-to-people exchanges in its approach towards the region.

The conference in Tajikistan is expected to provide an opportunity for participating countries to discuss issues related to peace, development and broader regional cooperation.

India And Tajikistan Reviewed Bilateral Ties In April

The visit follows the fifth round of Foreign Office Consultations between India and Tajikistan held in Dushanbe on April 2.

The talks were co-chaired by Ambassador Sibi George, Secretary (West), and Tajik Deputy Foreign Minister Idibek Kalandar. Both sides carried out a comprehensive review of bilateral cooperation in areas including political relations, defence, security, trade and economy, culture, education and consular affairs.

They also discussed cooperation within multilateral frameworks and exchanged views on regional and international developments of mutual interest.

During his visit, Secretary (West) met Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin and explored ways to further strengthen the mutually beneficial partnership and expand bilateral engagement.

Cultural Links Continue To Deepen

As part of his visit to Tajikistan, Ambassador Sibi George also interacted with members of the Indian community and Friends of India in Dushanbe, acknowledging their role in strengthening ties between the two countries.

He inaugurated three India Corners at educational institutions in Dushanbe, Khujand and Kulob to promote cultural and academic exchanges.

The initiative reflected the growing emphasis on educational and people-to-people ties, which have emerged as important pillars of the India-Tajikistan partnership.

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