Finance
Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his two-nation tour to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan on Saturday, expressing confidence that the diplomatic engagement will strengthen India’s strategic alliances in Central Asia.
To begin the itinerary, the Prime Minister will travel to Tashkent for a two-day bilateral visit at the request of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
Outlining expectations for the bilateral engagement, PM Modi said in his departure statement, “In recent years, India-Uzbekistan Strategic Partnership has seen significant advancement. I look forward to my discussions with President Mirziyoyev on further deepening our cooperation in trade and investment, digital connectivity, defence, energy, and on advancing our shared visions of Viksit Bharat and Yangi Uzbekistan.”
As part of the schedule in the Uzbek capital, the Prime Minister noted that he will also visit the Shastri Memorial and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, which he described as “a tribute to the close cultural and people-to-people ties” connecting both countries.
This is PM Modi’s fourth visit to Uzbekistan, following prior diplomatic engagements in 2015 and subsequent visits in 2016 and 2022 to attend SCO summits. Bilateral and multilateral collaboration between New Delhi and Tashkent has progressively increased over the years, as evidenced by President Mirziyoyev’s State Visit to India in 2018 and participation in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in 2019.
Following the bilateral leg in Tashkent, PM Modi will go to Bishkek at the request of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov to attend the 26th SCO Summit, which marks the organization’s 25th anniversary.
Highlighting regional priorities, PM Modi said in the departure statement, “India has been an active and constructive member of the SCO since 2017. I look forward to advancing India’s vision for the region, anchored in Security, Connectivity and Opportunity, and to working with fellow members for a region free from the scourge of terrorism, separatism and extremism, which continue to threaten peace and stability in our neighbourhood and beyond.”
The Prime Minister further added, “I also look forward to meeting President Japarov and other SCO leaders, and to attending the Opening Ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games, a celebration of the rich living heritage of Central Asia that India holds in deep respect.”
PM Modi added, “I am confident that this visit will strengthen India’s strategic partnerships in Central Asia, deepen our civilisational connect with the region, and advance our shared pursuit of peace, stability and prosperity, values that lie at the heart of India’s engagement with the world.”
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization consists of ten member states with a total territory of almost 36 million kilometers and a population of more than 3.4 billion. It accounts for around 25% of global GDP and more than 15% of international trade.
India gained full membership in the organization in 2017.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited is published from a syndicated feed.)
