New Delhi, 29 August (H.S.):

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a two-nation visit to Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic on Saturday, August 29, with the tour aimed at further strengthening India’s strategic engagement with Central Asia. The Prime Minister will first visit Uzbekistan before travelling to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to attend the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit from August 31 to September 1, 2026.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Prime Minister Modi will visit Tashkent on August 29-30 at the invitation of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. This will be his fourth visit to Uzbekistan.

During his stay in Tashkent, Prime Minister Modi will hold delegation-level talks with President Mirziyoyev to further strengthen the strategic partnership between India and Uzbekistan. The two leaders will review bilateral cooperation in key areas, including trade and investment, defence, digital connectivity, energy, education and people-to-people ties.

The discussions are also expected to focus on establishing a future roadmap for bilateral cooperation and advancing shared development priorities under India’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and Uzbekistan-2030.

During his stay in the Uzbek capital, Prime Minister Modi may also visit the Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies.

Following his Uzbekistan visit, Modi will travel to Bishkek to participate in the 26th SCO Summit from August 31 to September 1. The summit is being organised to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, of which India has been a full member since 2017.

At the summit, Prime Minister Modi will address the gathering and outline India’s priorities within the SCO framework, with particular emphasis on security, connectivity and opportunities. He will also hold bilateral meetings with other SCO leaders on the sidelines of the summit.

Prime Minister Modi is additionally scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games, an event that celebrates the rich cultural heritage and traditional sporting practices of Central Asia.

The two-nation visit is expected to provide an opportunity for India to deepen its political, economic and strategic engagement with Central Asia and strengthen cooperation through the SCO framework.

The Prime Minister’s visit will conclude on September 1.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar