TASHKENT, Aug 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tashkent on Saturday for a two-day official visit to Uzbekistan, with discussions with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev set to focus on expanding bilateral cooperation and strengthening India’s strategic engagement with Central Asia.
Modi was received by President Mirziyoyev upon his arrival in the Uzbek capital. The visit marks the prime minister’s fourth trip to Uzbekistan and is aimed at giving fresh momentum to relations between the two countries.
During his stay, Modi is scheduled to hold delegation-level talks with Mirziyoyev covering key areas including trade and investment, digital connectivity, defence and energy. The discussions are also expected to explore opportunities for greater economic and strategic cooperation.
In his departure statement, Modi said he looked forward to discussions with the Uzbek president on taking bilateral ties forward across several sectors while advancing the shared development visions of ‘Viksit Bharat’ and ‘Yangi Uzbekistan’.
The prime minister is also scheduled to visit the Shastri Memorial in Tashkent, commemorating former Indian prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. He will additionally visit the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies.
The cultural engagements are intended to highlight the longstanding historical, civilisational and people to people links between India and Uzbekistan.
The visit is the first leg of Modi’s two-nation tour, which also includes the Kyrgyz Republic. The trip comes as India seeks to deepen its strategic partnerships across Central Asia and expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
After completing his programme in Tashkent, Modi will travel to Bishkek, where he is scheduled to participate in the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov.
The prime minister’s engagements in both countries are expected to focus on strengthening regional cooperation and advancing India’s strategic interests in Central Asia.
