Excellencies, Distinguished participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Pleased to participate. Appreciation to Mr. Pankaj Saran, Convenor of NatStrat, for inviting and convening this session within Raisina Dialogue. It is my 5th year in a row at Raisina, so glad to be back in New Delhi.
Central Asia had traditionally been described as landlocked, relatively isolated from the rest of the world, including Asia. This had apparent historic reasons (Soviet legacy etc.).
But today, Central Asia - dynamic sub-region of CICA emerging as a unified regional actor and possessing growing capacity in a global context.
It is worth noting the growing quantity and quality of C5+1 formats: CA + China, CA + India, CA + Japan, CA + Russia, CA + US, CA + GCC. Some of them even got further institutionalized (e.g.: “CA + China” Secretariat in Xi’an).
Brand new stage of development: Azerbaijan’s – current CICA Chair (I will elaborate on this in a moment) - joining and turning the mechanism into C6.
Brief historic background. There had been multiple attempts to put together an institutional framework for Central Asian countries, most notably within the International Fund for Saving Aral sea.
Yet breakthrough has been achieved only over the last decade (since 2016).
Political leadership factor. The change of political elites in Uzbekistan (2016) and more recently in Kyrgyzstan (2021) – game changers.
The new generation of leaders in those countries made a strategic decision to revisit (echoing the session’s theme) the decades-old issues of the region (Fergana Valley):
Key milestones:
The Khujand agreement marked a remarkable shift in the region's political landscape concluding the decades of discussions (and clashes) over the borders. Rephrasing the famous quote: Central Asian countries “sleep under the same blanket and (now) dream the same dreams”. This achievement in Central Asia’s regional security – success story for the entire CICA region, especially amid ongoing clashes in West Asia.
Looking further south, the concept of connectivity between Central and South Asia, with Afghanistan as a natural inter-regional bridge, put forth by President Miriyoyev of Uzbekistan is just one of the ideas that could be implemented using CICA platform. CICA can serve a flagship for bringing into life such regional initiatives.
One example is Termez Dialogue. Its second iteration scheduled for mid-May 2026 will focus on the comprehensive scope of interregional connectivity covering trade, transport and logistics, energy, along with climate change adaptation and environmental sustainability. Its broader objective is to contribute to connectivity across the wider Asian space. Practical dialogue at sub-regional level can serve the broader objective of strengthening trust and cooperation across Asia as a whole.
Across Asia, including Central Asia, transport corridors, energy routes and digital networks are expanding. At the same time, supply chains are being reorganized and new economic linkages are emerging.
For CICA, connectivity cannot be separated from confidence-building. Infrastructure alone does not create stability. Sustainable connectivity requires trust, transparency and effective cooperation among states.
CICA is a unique multilateral platform of 28 Member States, stretching from the Pacific to the Mediterranean and from the Arctic to the Indian Ocean.
CICA provides equal opportunities to exchange views and best practices and to take decisions based on consensus. This principle, along with inclusiveness and voluntariness, make CICA a very flexible structure.
If corridors are perceived as exclusive or competitive instruments, they may generate mistrust. If they are developed through inclusive and cooperative approaches, they strengthen confidence and stability.
The concept note of this session rightly highlights that the durability of corridors depends on the ability to manage non-traditional security risks, including extremism and terrorism.
Within CICA, this approach is reflected in our work under both the Economic and the New Challenges and Threats Dimension. Under the Economic Dimension, Member States promote cooperation in trade facilitation, transport, energy and sustainable development. Under the New Challenges and Threats Dimension, Member States cooperate in addressing terrorism, extremism and other risks that may undermine regional stability.
These two dimensions are mutually reinforcing. Secure environments support economic development, and economic development contributes to long-term stability.
Connectivity in a broader context is at the heart of CICA’s philosophy and is among the priorities of the current Azerbaijani Chairmanship centered around the theme of “connectivity, digitalization and sustainable growth in Asia.”
Special attention is being given to establishing the CICA Council on Sustainable Connectivity aimed at providing a structured platform for dialogue and coordination among Member States on issues related to transport, trade facilitation and sustainable connectivity.
India plays an important role in supporting connectivity across Asia through trade, technology, energy cooperation and capacity-building. As a Member State of CICA, India contributes actively to dialogue within the Organization and supports cooperative approaches to both connectivity and security.
Connectivity is reshaping Asia. Including Central Asia, all parts of our continent are increasingly interlinked. To ensure that this process leads to shared prosperity, connectivity must be accompanied by confidence-building, dialogue and cooperative approaches to common challenges.
I hope that CICA Member States will remain committed to strengthening cooperation across its entire membership and to promoting a stable, connected and prosperous Asia.
Thank you.
