PM Modi begins four-day Central Asia visit; will attend SCO summit, Putin meeting likely

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin his four-day visit to Central Asian countries today. PM Modi will visit Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic. Modi, who is holding bilateral talks in Uzbekistan, will also attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Kyrgyzstan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave India at 9 am today. The Prime Minister will meet Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, defence, digital connectivity, energy and education will be discussed. This is Modi's fourth visit to Uzbekistan. The 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit will be held on 31 and 1.

India's position on regional security, counter-terrorism, economic cooperation, and transport links will be presented at the summit. Bilateral meetings will also be held with SCO leaders. A meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely. It is indicated that India-Russia strategic relations, defence, and energy cooperation will be discussed. Chinese President Xi Jinping is also participating in the summit.

The summit will also assess the West Asian conflict. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will also attend. Modi will also attend the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games being held in Kyrgyzstan. The aim of the visit is to further strengthen India's strategic and economic ties with the Central Asian countries.