New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with Kazakhstan Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit, focusing on strengthening the strategic partnership and expanding cooperation across key sectors including trade, defence, energy and emerging technologies.
The meeting took place during the ongoing global summit on artificial intelligence being hosted in the national capital, where multiple world leaders, technology executives and policymakers have gathered for high-level discussions on AI governance, innovation and global collaboration.
Details of the bilateral engagement were shared by Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, through official statements on social media.
Focus on multi-sector cooperation
According to the MEA spokesperson, the two Prime Ministers discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation across a wide spectrum of sectors. These include trade and investment, defence and security collaboration, connectivity corridors, energy partnerships, emerging technologies and people-to-people exchanges.
Officials indicated that the dialogue aimed at giving fresh momentum to the India–Kazakhstan strategic partnership, with emphasis on practical cooperation and long-term institutional linkages. Both sides reviewed ongoing engagements and explored new areas where collaboration can be scaled up.
Connectivity and energy security were among the themes highlighted, given Kazakhstan’s importance in Central Asia and its role in regional energy and transport networks.
Kazakhstan PM received in New Delhi
Earlier, Bektenov arrived in the capital to participate in the summit proceedings and related bilateral engagements. He was received at the airport by Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh, signalling the importance attached to the visit.
The MEA said the Kazakhstan Prime Minister’s participation in the summit and bilateral meetings is expected to further strengthen robust ties between the two countries and open new channels of cooperation in technology-driven sectors.
Diplomatic sources noted that India has been steadily enhancing engagement with Central Asian countries through political dialogue, trade initiatives and multilateral platforms, and the latest meeting fits into that broader outreach.
Multiple high-level meetings at AI summit
On the sidelines of the summit, Prime Minister Modi also held a series of bilateral and strategic meetings with other global leaders and industry figures. These included discussions with Croatia Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, Serbia President Aleksandar Vucic, Finland Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, and Spain President Pedro Sanchez.
He also met Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, to discuss developments in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and innovation ecosystems.
These meetings underline the summit’s dual role — as a global technology platform and as a venue for high-level diplomatic engagement.
Global participation at AI Impact Summit
The AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam and runs from February 16 to February 20. The event has drawn participation from heads of government, ministers, technology leaders, researchers and civil society representatives from across the world.
Among other prominent attendees arriving in the capital are UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, and Sweden’s Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch, along with senior representatives from several countries.
The summit agenda includes AI governance frameworks, ethical AI, public sector applications, industry innovation, skilling, and cross-border technology cooperation.
Conclusion
The Modi–Bektenov meeting on the summit sidelines highlights how technology forums are increasingly serving as platforms for strategic diplomacy. With discussions covering trade, defence, energy and emerging technologies, both countries signalled intent to broaden and deepen their partnership through structured and future-focused cooperation.