President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov during the first Central Asia-India summit held online on Thursday proposed to include the Turkmenbashi International Seaport in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
The online summit, convened at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was also attended by the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi warmly welcomed the participants of the summit, congratulated them on the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and the countries of Central Asia and reiterated his country’s commitment to fruitful cooperation, the official media of Turkmenistan reports.
In this regard, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stated the expediency of creating the Secretariat of the Central Asia-India summit and the constructiveness of the idea of the Central Asia-India Parliamentary Forum.
The summit also emphasized the need for an effective transport, energy and technological system between the countries of Central Asia and India.
President Berdimuhamedov said Turkmenistan supports the Indian side's proposal to include Chabahar port in the structure of the INSTC and establish a relevant Joint Working Group to address the issues of free movement of goods and services between India and Central Asia. In this context, the Turkmen Leader also proposed to consider the inclusion of the Turkmenbashi port in this corridor.
The Turkmen President added that his country was ready to discuss opportunities for cooperation with Indian partners in the electricity sector.
On top of that, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov voiced a proposal to consider establishing the Central Asia-India Medical Association.
The Delhi Declaration was adopted at the end of the summit.
