 |
| PM Narendra Modi arrived in Samarkand, Uzbekistan for the SCO summit, on 15 September 2022. (Twitter @MEAIndia) |
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Thursday-Image source-Firstpost
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Thursday to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. According to a report from news agency PTI, the SCO summit will discuss issues such as improving trade and energy supplies as well as regional security challenges.
According to a report from news agency PTI, the SCO summit will discuss issues such as improving trade and energy supplies as well as regional security challenges.
Notably, the SCO is holding its first physical summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, two years after its last one, with participation from Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
PM Narendra Modi is also attending the SCO, as are the Russian and Chinese presidents. “Landed in Samarkand to participate in the SCO Summit,” Modi tweeted.
At the airport, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was warmly received by his Uzbek counterpart, Abdulla Aripov, as well as ministers, the governor of the Samarkand region, and senior officials. He is also anticipated to hold bilateral meetings with Putin and other world leaders on the sidelines of the summit, including Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
In a statement released prior to his departure, Prime Minister Modi said, “At the SCO Summit, I look forward to exchanging views on topical, regional and international issues; the expansion of SCO; and the further deepening of multifaceted and mutually beneficial cooperation within the organisation.”
“Under the Uzbek chairship, a number of decisions for mutual cooperation are likely to be adopted in the areas of trade, economy, culture and tourism.”
Furthermore, PM Modi stated that he was eager to meet President Mirziyoyev and added, “I fondly recall his visit to India in 2018. He also graced the Vibrant Gujarat Summit as a Guest of Honour in 2019. In addition, I will hold bilateral meetings with some of the other leaders attending the summit”.
It’s important to note that there has been no confirmation of his potential bilateral with Xi. Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister of Pakistan, is also attending the summit.
When asked if Modi and Xi will meet in the bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the summit, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra responded, “We will keep you fully apprised when the PM’s schedule of bilateral meetings unfolds,” according to a PTI report.
