New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a four-day visit to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan on Saturday, August 29, with bilateral engagements in Tashkent followed by his participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek.
The visit is expected to focus on strengthening India’s engagement with Central Asia as well as discussions on regional security, connectivity, trade and economic cooperation.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), PM Modi will visit Uzbekistan from August 29 to 30 before travelling to Kyrgyzstan, where he will attend the SCO Summit from August 31 to September 1.
PM Modi To Hold Talks With Uzbekistan President
During the first leg of his visit, PM Modi will hold delegation-level talks with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent.
The two leaders are expected to review the India-Uzbekistan strategic partnership and discuss cooperation across areas including trade and investment, defence, digital connectivity, energy, education and people-to-people ties.
This will be Modi’s fourth visit to Uzbekistan.
The Prime Minister is also expected to visit the memorial of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri in Tashkent as well as the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies.
SCO Summit In Bishkek
PM Modi will subsequently travel to Bishkek to participate in the SCO Summit, which comes as the organisation marks its 25th anniversary.
The summit is expected to focus on the evolving regional security situation and cooperation among SCO members. During his address, Modi is expected to highlight India’s priorities, including security, connectivity and opportunity.
The SCO was established with countering terrorism, separatism and extremism among its central objectives. India became a full member of the grouping in 2017.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif are among the leaders expected to attend the gathering.
Modi-Putin Bilateral Meeting Expected
PM Modi is also expected to hold a series of bilateral meetings with participating leaders on the sidelines of the summit.
Among the key engagements will be a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The talks are expected to cover bilateral cooperation as well as important regional and global developments.
The meeting assumes significance amid continued India-Russia engagement on energy, fertilisers, trade and other areas of economic cooperation.
PM Modi is also scheduled to attend the opening of the sixth World Nomad Games, which showcase the traditional sports and cultural heritage of Central Asia.
