India & 5 Central Asian countries express interest in joint exploration of rare earth & critical minerals

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.