New Delhi, welcoming the Kyrgyz proposal to join the arrangement, feels that greater Central Asian support to the existing agreement would boost trade from India to Central Asia and streamline existing problems.

This was discussed during the visit of Kyrgyz president Askar Akaev to the capital, which concluded here today. Akaev, recalling the historical relationship between India and Central Asia, sought New Delhi's interest in reviving linkages. He told journalists, ``Once the great emperor Babur brought to you our culture. We would now like you to return to us and enrich us,'' he said.

The government's interest in Central Asia, after it has emerged from the Communist veil in 1992, has several foci among them to develop business and to play a role in theemerging post-Cold War strategic relationships.

In that context, New Delhi supports Bishkek's (the capital of Kyrgyzstan) proposal to hold a conference on Afghanistan, even though neither nation shares a border with that country. Both sides feel that having been left out of the UN-sponsored ``6+2 talks'' (all six countries in the region which share a border with Afghanistan, plus Russia and the US), but nevertheless being affected by the continuing strife there, there is need to broadbase the Afghan dialogue.

Both sides expressed their determination to upgrade the level of their minimal economic cooperation. Collaboration in the areas of light processing, mining, power and petro-chemical industries, telecommunication, agriculture and tourism, is being considered by both sides.

Akaev was also highly appreciative of the ITEC assistance offered by India to Kyrgyzstan, saying he often called it ``high-tech assistance.''

At a FICCI seminar, the Kyrgyz president also offered to sell surplus hydro power toIndia, and said his government was interested in Indian participation in hydro-electric projects.

One of the thrust areas of Akaev's visit here has been on the tourism sector, with the Kyrgyz president himself trying to sell his ``undiscovered'' country. Officials accompanying Akaev added that after the airport at Bishkek, being constructed by the Japanese, is built, it will also offer some of the shortest and best connections from South Asia to Europe.