Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a four-day visit to Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic from August 29 to September 1, combining a bilateral visit to Tashkent with participation in the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday.
Modi will visit Uzbekistan from August 29 to 30 at the invitation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. During his state visit to Tashkent, he will hold delegation-level talks with the Uzbek President to review and further strengthen bilateral ties.
The discussions are expected to cover trade and investment, defence, digital connectivity, energy, education, healthcare and people-to-people ties, besides exploring cooperation in critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, technology, space and culture.
MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George said India and Uzbekistan have maintained extensive and fruitful engagement, with bilateral trade and investments together nearing USD 1 billion. India is among Uzbekistan’s top 10 trading partners, while more than 16,000 Indian students are currently studying in the country.
Modi is also scheduled to visit the Shastri Memorial in Tashkent and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies. He will attend a banquet lunch hosted by President Mirziyoyev.
From Tashkent, Modi will travel to Bishkek from August 31 to September 1 to attend the 26th SCO Summit at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov.
The summit comes as the SCO marks 25 years of its establishment. India has been a full member of the grouping since 2017 and has previously held the chairmanship of both the SCO Council of Heads of Government and the Council of Heads of State.
At the Bishkek summit, Modi is expected to underline India’s priorities of security, connectivity and opportunity and hold bilateral meetings with leaders of SCO member states on the sidelines.
The Prime Minister will also attend the opening ceremony of the sixth World Nomad Games, showcasing the cultural heritage of Central Asia.
The visit is expected to provide an opportunity for India to deepen its strategic and economic engagement with Uzbekistan and strengthen cooperation with Central Asian partners through the SCO in areas including security, connectivity, trade, technology, education and culture.
