New Delhi, Aug 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic from August 29 to September 1, combining high-level bilateral engagements with participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
The visit is expected to provide India an opportunity to strengthen its strategic engagement with Central Asia and push cooperation in areas including security, trade, connectivity, energy and defence.
Modi will first travel to Tashkent at the invitation of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. During his stay in Uzbekistan, the Prime Minister is scheduled to hold discussions with the Uzbek leadership on expanding bilateral cooperation and strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Economic relations, investment, digital connectivity, defence and energy are expected to figure prominently in the talks.The visit will also highlight India’s long-standing cultural and people-to-people links with Uzbekistan.
Modi is scheduled to visit the Shastri Memorial and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies.From Uzbekistan, Modi will travel to Bishkek to attend the 26th SCO Summit at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov.
India is expected to underline its priorities at the summit, with particular emphasis on security, connectivity and economic opportunities. Modi has also stressed the need for collective efforts among SCO members to counter terrorism, separatism and extremism.
India became a full member of the SCO in 2017 and has since regarded the organisation as an important platform for engagement with Central Asia and other member states.The Bishkek summit also carries special significance as the SCO marks 25 years of its establishment.
Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several participating leaders on the sidelines of the summit to discuss issues of mutual interest.
During his Kyrgyzstan visit, the Prime Minister will also attend the opening ceremony of the sixth World Nomad Games, an event showcasing the traditional culture and sporting heritage of Central Asia.
Officials said the four-day visit reflects India’s broader effort to deepen its engagement with Central Asian countries while contributing to regional peace, stability and prosperity.
The visit is also expected to reinforce India’s civilisational and contemporary links with the region and create new avenues for cooperation in strategic and economic sectors.
