Dushanbe, June 12 -- Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh on Friday reaffirmed India's enduring commitment to its partnership with Central Asia and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) during his two-day official visit to Tajikistan.

Participating in the SCO Conference titled "Central Asia - The Core of SCO: A Space of Peace and Joint Development," the Minister outlined India's strategic vision for the bloc. Kirti Vardhan Singh announced that India will host the inaugural edition of the SCO Civilisation Dialogue Forum in Kolkata from July 17-19, 2026.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the forum and deliver the keynote address. The forum is designed to serve as a platform for deepening m...