NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday embarked on a four-day visit to Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic, during which he will hold bilateral talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and attend the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek.PM Modi will be on a State Visit to Uzbekistan on August 29-30 at the invitation of Mirziyoyev before travelling to Bishkek for the SCO summit on August 31 and September 1.In his departure statement, the Prime Minister said the visit would focus on strengthening India's strategic partnerships in Central Asia and deepening its ties with the region.

Talks with Mirziyoyev in Tashkent

During his visit to Tashkent, PM Modi will hold delegation-level talks with President Mirziyoyev to further strengthen the India-Uzbekistan Strategic Partnership.The two leaders will review cooperation in trade and investment, digital connectivity, defence, energy, education and people-to-people ties, and set the agenda for future engagement.

“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,” PM Modi said.

This will be PM Modi's fourth visit to Uzbekistan.The Prime Minister is also scheduled to visit the Shastri Memorial and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies.PM Modi described the two visits as a tribute to the “close cultural and people-to-people ties” between India and Uzbekistan.

PM Modi to visit Bishkek for SCO summit

From Tashkent, PM Modi will travel to Bishkek at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov to attend the 26th SCO Summit, which marks 25 years of the organisation.India has been a full and active 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,” PM Modi said.The Prime Minister is expected to meet President Zhaparov and other SCO leaders and will also attend the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games.

Putin, Xi among leaders expected at summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are among the leaders expected to attend the two-day SCO summit in Bishkek.The summit will bring together leaders of the 10-member grouping, which includes Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, four Central Asian countries and Belarus.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif are also expected to participate in the plenary session.The SCO, which was founded with a focus on regional and economic cooperation, now has 15 dialogue partners and two observer countries, Afghanistan and Mongolia.PM Modi said he was confident that his visit would “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.”