Modi’s Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan visit includes SCO Summit meetings, focusing on India-Russia ties, regional security and key diplomatic engagements.
Four-day visit: PM Modi will visit Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan from August 29 to 31.
Uzbekistan first: Modi will visit Uzbekistan on August 29 and 30 at President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s invitation.
SCO Summit: He will travel to Bishkek on August 31 to attend the SCO Summit.
Putin meeting: Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
India-Russia ties: The leaders are expected to review the full range of bilateral relations.
Jaishankar’s Moscow visit: S Jaishankar recently met Putin and co-chaired the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission meeting.
25 years of SCO: This year’s summit marks 25 years of the regional grouping.
Major leaders: Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Shehbaz Sharif are expected to attend.
Regional security: The summit is expected to focus on the evolving security situation in the region.
Central Asia: Modi’s visit will provide an opportunity to strengthen India’s engagement with Central Asian countries.
PM Modi Begins Four-Day Central Asia Visit, To Meet Putin at SCO Summit
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin a four-day visit to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan on Saturday, August 29, with his trip expected to focus on strengthening India’s diplomatic partnerships and regional cooperation.
Modi will first travel to Uzbekistan, where he will stay from August 29 to 30 at the invitation of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. He will then travel to Bishkek on August 31 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.
One of the most closely watched engagements during the visit will be Modi’s bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit. The meeting comes at a significant time for India-Russia relations, with both countries continuing to maintain close cooperation across several areas.
The Ministry of External Affairs said the meeting between the two leaders is expected to cover the entire range of India-Russia relations. Officials are also expected to discuss important regional and international developments during their interaction.
Sibi George, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, confirmed that the meeting had been scheduled. He said Modi and Putin would review the “entire gamut” of the bilateral relationship.
The meeting will be one of several bilateral engagements Modi is expected to hold during the summit. The government said details of other meetings would be announced after they are finalised.
Modi’s meeting with Putin also follows External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s recent visit to Moscow. During his visit earlier this week, Jaishankar met Putin and co-chaired the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation.
The recent diplomatic activity highlights the importance New Delhi continues to attach to its relationship with Moscow, particularly in trade, technology, energy and other strategic areas.
The SCO Summit itself is expected to attract considerable international attention. This year’s gathering will mark 25 years of the grouping, which has emerged as an important platform for cooperation on security, economic and regional issues across Eurasia.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the summit is expected to focus particularly on the changing security environment in the region. Leaders will have an opportunity to discuss regional challenges and explore ways to strengthen cooperation among member countries.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif are among the leaders expected to attend the summit.
For India, Modi’s participation provides an opportunity to engage directly with several major regional powers while advancing New Delhi’s interests on security, connectivity, trade and economic cooperation.
The visit is also being watched for the possibility of important conversations between India and Russia at a time when global geopolitical tensions continue to influence diplomatic and economic relationships.
For Modi, the four-day trip is therefore more than a series of formal meetings. It offers an opportunity to strengthen India’s presence in Central Asia, maintain high-level engagement with Russia and participate in discussions shaping the region’s future.