Central Asia is composed of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan, while the South Asian region, dominated by Pakistan and India, includes Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the Maldives.

South Asia is the most populous region in the world and hosts rapidly growing economies. Central Asia is a diverse and complex region with a repository of natural resources including gas, oil, and hydropower.