New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan from August 29 to September 1 on a visit during which issues related to security, trade, energy cooperation and connectivity are expected to figure prominently in the talks.
The PM will travel to Uzbekistan for a bilateral visit and to Kyrgyzstan for the annual 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday.
Modi will visit Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, from August 29-30 at the invitation of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
The visit will be his fourth to Uzbekistan and is aimed at further strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries.
During his visit, Modi will hold delegation-level talks with Mirziyoyev covering trade and investment, defence, digital connectivity, energy, education and people-to-people ties.
The two leaders are also expected to discuss their respective development visions, including Viksit Bharat 2047 and Uzbekistan-2030, and set an agenda for expanding bilateral cooperation.
Modi is also scheduled to visit the Shastri Memorial in Tashkent and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies.
From Uzbekistan, Modi will travel to Bishkek to attend the 26th SCO Summit from 31 August to 1 September at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov.
The SCO summit comes as the organisation marks its 25th anniversary. India became a full member of the grouping in 2017.
Modi will address the summit and highlight India’s priorities of security, connectivity and opportunity. He is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with other SCO leaders on the sidelines of the summit.
The Prime Minister will further attend the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games, which showcase the cultural heritage and traditions of Central Asia.
The four-day visit is expected to provide India an opportunity to deepen ties with Central Asian partners while advancing cooperation on trade, defence, connectivity, energy and regional security through both bilateral and multilateral engagements. (NVI)
