A New Era of Regional Collaboration

India and the five Central Asian republics—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation on some of the most pressing challenges of our time: public health, climate change, and clean energy. This renewed partnership was formalised at the 4th India-Central Asia Dialogue, held in New Delhi on June 6, 2025, where foreign ministers and senior officials from all six countries gathered to set an ambitious agenda for joint action and sustainable development.

Building on Shared History and Modern Realities

The dialogue opened with a recognition of the deep civilisational, cultural, and historical ties between India and Central Asia, but the focus quickly shifted to the future. Both sides underscored the need for a forward-looking, enduring partnership that addresses common challenges and harnesses untapped potential for peace, security, and sustainable growth.

Since the first India-Central Asia Summit in 2022, the partnership has advanced across multiple sectors, but the 2025 dialogue marked a significant pivot towards health, climate resilience, and clean energy as top priorities. The joint statement issued at the close of the meeting reflected satisfaction with progress to date and outlined a roadmap for the years ahead.

Health: Strengthening Systems and Expanding Access

Healthcare Infrastructure and Universal Coverage

One of the most significant outcomes of the dialogue was a pledge to deepen collaboration in healthcare infrastructure and public health. India and Central Asia agreed to work together on strengthening healthcare systems, sharing expertise in medical tourism, and exploring models for Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The possibility of creating a Joint Working Group on health was discussed, which would coordinate efforts in capacity building, disease surveillance, and the adoption of digital health solutions.

Traditional Medicine and Medical Tourism

Central Asian countries expressed interest in India’s expertise in traditional medicine, including Ayurveda and yoga, as well as its rapidly growing medical tourism sector. India agreed to broaden the scope of its ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation) Programme to include training in healthcare and traditional medicine, building on its successful capacity-building initiatives in IT and English language training.

Pandemic Preparedness and Digital Innovation

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of resilient health systems and rapid information sharing. Both sides committed to enhancing cooperation in digital health, telemedicine, and the use of digital public infrastructure to improve health outcomes and pandemic preparedness. Central Asia welcomed India’s offer to assist in developing digital health platforms and to share best practices from its own digital transformation.

Climate: Facing a Shared Threat

Climate Change as a Regional Priority

Central Asia is one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions, facing threats from glacial melt, water scarcity, and extreme weather. India and Central Asia agreed to intensify cooperation on climate adaptation and mitigation, with a focus on sharing technology, expertise, and finance.

The dialogue highlighted the outcomes of the recent Central Asia Climate Change Conference (CACCC 2025), where countries discussed the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), climate finance, and the alignment of national policies with global climate goals. Both sides pledged to work together to mobilise climate finance, develop innovative solutions, and strengthen regional frameworks for transboundary cooperation.

Mountain Development and Glacial Preservation

The preservation of glaciers and mountain ecosystems emerged as a shared concern. The ministers praised the First High-Level Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation in Dushanbe and expressed interest in advancing mountain development under the “Five-Year Action Plan” adopted at the 77th UN General Assembly. The upcoming Second Global Mountain Summit “Bishkek+25” in 2027 was acknowledged as a key milestone for regional and global action.

Disaster Resilience and Humanitarian Cooperation

India invited Central Asian countries to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), a multilateral initiative aimed at strengthening infrastructure against natural hazards. The integration of the Termez logistics hub into the UNHCR global stockpile network and Kazakhstan’s initiative to establish a UN SDG Hub in Almaty were welcomed as important steps in regional humanitarian and development efforts.

Clean Energy: Powering a Sustainable Future

Expanding Clean Energy Partnerships

Clean energy was a central theme of the dialogue, with both sides recognising the need to accelerate the transition to renewables. India invited Central Asian countries to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA), positioning these platforms as mechanisms for technology transfer, investment, and capacity building.

Central Asia, with its vast solar and wind potential, stands to benefit from India’s experience in scaling up renewable energy. The ministers agreed to promote joint projects in solar, wind, and hydro power, and to explore opportunities for cross-border energy trade and regional grid integration.

Rare Earths and Critical Minerals

Mineral exploration and the sustainable development of rare earth and critical minerals featured prominently in the talks. Building on the first India-Central Asia Rare Earth Forum in 2024, both sides called for a second edition soon and encouraged exchanges of delegations to identify new areas of cooperation. These minerals are vital for clean energy technologies, including batteries, wind turbines, and electric vehicles.

Technology and Digital Infrastructure

The dialogue also emphasised the importance of digital infrastructure in supporting clean energy and climate action. Central Asian countries noted the transformative role of India Stack—a suite of digital public goods—in driving digital transformation, and India agreed to assist in developing similar platforms in the region. The launch of an India-Central Asia Digital Partnership Forum, with Uzbekistan offering to host the first meeting, will further strengthen collaboration in digital innovation.

Multilateral Synergies and Global Engagement

Supporting Global Initiatives

India and Central Asia reiterated their support for multilateral initiatives aimed at sustainable and inclusive growth. The ministers welcomed the designation of 2025 as the “International Year of Peace and Trust” and the upcoming International Forum of Peace and Trust in Ashgabat. They also reaffirmed strong support for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as a platform for regional security and people-to-people engagement.

UN Security Council Reform

Central Asian countries reaffirmed their support for India’s bid for permanent membership in a reformed and expanded UN Security Council, recognising India’s growing role in global governance.

Afghanistan and Regional Stability

The situation in Afghanistan was discussed, with both sides emphasising the need for a peaceful, terror-free, and drug-free Afghanistan. They committed to close coordination on related issues, including humanitarian aid and counterterrorism.

Youth, Education, and People-to-People Ties

Student Exchanges and Youth Diplomacy

The ministers recognised the importance of youth diplomacy and agreed to continue student exchanges and educational partnerships. Emphasis was placed on student welfare and the role of education in fostering mutual understanding and long-term collaboration.

Business and Investment

The India-Central Asia Business Council (ICABC) was praised for its role in fostering business linkages and investment opportunities. Both sides acknowledged the need to expand trade in high-potential sectors such as pharmaceuticals, IT, agriculture, energy, textiles, and gems and jewellery.

Financial Connectivity

Efforts to strengthen financial connectivity through digital payment systems, interbank relations, and trade in national currencies were discussed. The establishment of a Joint Working Group on banking and financial ties is under consideration.

Looking Ahead: Roadmap for Joint Action

Preparing for the Next Summit

The dialogue concluded with a commitment to deepen cooperation across all shared priorities and to prepare for the second India-Central Asia Summit later in 2025. The ministers agreed to hold the 5th India-Central Asia Dialogue in 2026 and thanked India for its warm hospitality and productive chairmanship.

Key Takeaways

Healthcare: Joint efforts on infrastructure, digital health, medical tourism, and traditional medicine.
Climate: Collaboration on adaptation, finance, mountain development, and disaster resilience.
Clean Energy: Partnerships in renewables, rare earths, and digital infrastructure.
Trade and Investment: Expanding business links and financial connectivity.
Youth and Education: Strengthening exchanges and student welfare.
Multilateralism: Coordinated action on global issues, including UN reform and regional security.

Summary

India and Central Asia have pledged to act together on health, climate, and clean energy, marking a new chapter in regional cooperation. The agreements reached in New Delhi reflect a shared understanding that the challenges of the 21st century—pandemics, climate change, and the energy transition—require joint solutions and sustained partnership. As both sides prepare for the next summit, the focus will remain on translating these commitments into concrete action for the benefit of their peoples and the wider region.