New Delhi, Aug 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a four-day visit to Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic from August 29 to September 1, during which he will hold bilateral talks in Tashkent and attend the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek.
Modi will visit Uzbekistan from August 29 to 30 at the invitation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. During his state visit to Tashkent, he is scheduled to hold delegation-level talks with Mirziyoyev to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries.
The discussions are expected to cover trade and investment, defence, digital connectivity, energy, education and people-to-people ties. The two sides will also review cooperation linked to their respective development visions, Viksit Bharat 2047 and Uzbekistan-2030.
Modi is also expected to visit the Shastri Memorial and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India and Uzbekistan have maintained extensive cooperation in areas including critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, education, information technology and healthcare. Bilateral trade and investments together are close to USD 1 billion, while more than 16,000 Indian students are studying in Uzbekistan.
From Tashkent, Modi will travel to Bishkek from August 31 to September 1 to participate in the 26th SCO Summit at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov.
India has been a full member of the SCO since 2017. At the summit, Modi is expected to address SCO leaders and highlight India's priorities of security, connectivity and opportunity.
He is also likely to hold bilateral meetings with leaders of SCO member countries on the sidelines of the summit.
The Prime Minister will additionally attend the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games, which showcases the cultural heritage of Central Asia.
The visit is expected to provide an opportunity to deepen India's strategic and economic ties with Uzbekistan and strengthen cooperation with Central Asian countries in areas including security, connectivity, trade, technology, education and culture.
