By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – Prime Minister Narendra Modi OFFICE ON Friday announced that PM will embark on a 4 day visit to Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic from August 29 to September 1.
He will hold bilateral talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and also take part in the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Bishkek and meet leaders of member countries, the PMO stated.
Modi will undertake a state visit to Uzbekistan on August 29-30 at the invitation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
The visit will be his fourth trip to the country and is expected to deepen the strategic partnership between India and Uzbekistan
He will hold delegation-level talks with President Mirziyoyev.
Both leaders will review the full range of bilateral cooperation, including trade and investment, defence, digital connectivity, energy, education and people-to-people exchanges.
According to the PMO, the discussions will also focus on the future course of the India-Uzbekistan strategic partnership and advancing the shared development visions of “Viksit Bharat 2047” and “Uzbekistan-2030”.
He is also expected to visit the Shastri Memorial in Tashkent and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, underlined the longstanding historical and cultural links between India and Uzbekistan.
Modi will travel to Bishkek at the invitation of President Sadyr Zhaparov of the Kyrgyz Republic to participate in the 26th SCO Summit, scheduled to be held from August 31 to September 1.
The summit assumes special significance as it marks the 25th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a major Eurasian political, economic and security grouping.
India became a full member of the SCO in 2017.
PM Modi will address the summit and outline India’s priorities under the themes of Security, Connectivity and Opportunity”.
He will also hold bilateral meetings with several SCO leaders on the sidelines of the gathering.
The SCO has emerged as an important platform for discussions on regional security, connectivity, economic cooperation and shared challenges across Eurasia.
India has used the forum to advocate greater cooperation against terrorism and extremism, stronger regional connectivity and expanded economic opportunities.
Modi will also attend the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games, a major international sporting and cultural event celebrating the rich traditions and nomadic heritage of Central Asia.
He will also reinforce India’s growing engagement with Central Asia, strengthen bilateral ties with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, and provide New Delhi an opportunity to advance its priorities on regional security, connectivity and cooperation at the SCO summit.
