Tashkent /New Delhi, 30 August (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev shared a car ride in Tashkent on Saturday, marking a warm beginning to Modi’s two-day visit to Uzbekistan and highlighting the close ties between the two countries.

President Mirziyoyev personally received Prime Minister Modi at the airport after his arrival in Tashkent on Saturday. The two leaders then travelled together by car before proceeding with the Prime Minister’s scheduled engagements.

The joint car ride was one of the notable moments of Modi’s arrival in the Uzbek capital and reflected the warmth and personal rapport between the two leaders. Their interaction came ahead of formal bilateral talks aimed at giving further momentum to the India-Uzbekistan Strategic Partnership.

Following his arrival, PM Modi accompanied Mirziyoyev to the Yangi Uzbekistan Monument in Tashkent. The two leaders laid a wreath at the monument, which symbolises Uzbekistan’s national aspirations and development journey.

PM Modi later expressed his gratitude to President Mirziyoyev for the warm reception, describing the welcome as a “special gesture”. He also noted that this was his fourth visit to Uzbekistan, reflecting the growing momentum and depth of relations between the two countries.

During his two-day visit, MModi is scheduled to hold delegation-level talks with Mirziyoyev. The discussions will cover key areas including trade and investment, defence, digital connectivity, energy, education and people-to-people relations.

The two leaders are also expected to exchange views on advancing their respective development visions of Viksit Bharat 2047 and Uzbekistan-2030.

Modi’s visit to Uzbekistan is the first leg of his four-day Central Asia tour. After concluding his engagements in Tashkent, he will travel to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to participate in the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit from August 31 to September 1.

The warm reception extended by Mirziyoyev, including the shared car ride, has set a cordial tone for Modi’s visit as India and Uzbekistan seek to further deepen their strategic and multifaceted partnership.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar