New Delhi, 29 August (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday embarked on a four-day visit to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, with the trip aimed at strengthening India’s strategic partnerships in Central Asia, deepening civilisational and people-to-people ties, and advancing cooperation on security, connectivity and economic opportunities.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the Prime Minister will first travel to Tashkent for a two-day bilateral visit at the invitation of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. This will be Modi’s fourth visit to Uzbekistan.

In his departure statement on Saturday, Prime Minister Modi said India-Uzbekistan relations had witnessed “significant advancement” in recent years. He said he looked forward to discussions with President Mirziyoyev on further expanding cooperation in trade and investment, digital connectivity, defence and energy, besides advancing the shared visions of Viksit Bharat 2047 and Uzbekistan’s Yangi Uzbekistan development agenda.

Modi is also scheduled to visit the Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies. He said these visits would pay tribute to the close cultural and people-to-people ties between India and Uzbekistan.

The Prime Minister has previously visited Uzbekistan in 2015 and subsequently travelled to the country in 2016 and 2022 for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summits. Bilateral relations have expanded considerably in recent years, including through President Mirziyoyev’s State Visit to India in 2018 and his participation in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in 2019.

After completing his engagements in Tashkent, Modi will travel to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, at the invitation of President Sadyr Japarov. He will participate in the 26th SCO Summit, which is being held to commemorate the organisation’s 25th anniversary.

India has been a full member of the SCO since 2017. In his departure statement, Modi said India had remained an “active and constructive” member of the grouping and would seek to advance its vision for the region based on security, connectivity and opportunity.

He said India would work with other SCO members towards creating a region free from terrorism, separatism and extremism, which he described as continuing threats to peace and stability in India’s neighbourhood and beyond.

Modi is also scheduled to meet President Japarov and other SCO leaders on the sidelines of the summit. He will attend the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games, an event showcasing the rich cultural heritage and living traditions of Central Asia.

The Prime Minister expressed confidence that his visit would further strengthen India’s strategic partnerships across Central Asia, deepen the country’s civilisational engagement with the region and contribute to the shared pursuit of peace, stability and prosperity.

The SCO currently comprises 10 member states and covers a substantial part of the Eurasian region. India’s participation in the organisation forms an important component of its wider engagement with Central Asia and its efforts to promote regional cooperation.

The visit is expected to provide an opportunity for India to advance bilateral ties with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan while engaging with other SCO members on pressing regional and global issues.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar