By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – India Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tashkent on Saturday, on his first leg of 4 day diplomatic visit in Central Asia.
Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev personally receivied PM Modi at the Tashkent International Airport in a special gesture underscored the growing strategic partnership between India and Uzbekistan.
The visit marked Modi’s 4th trip to Uzbekistan, after his previous visits in 2015, 2016 and 2022, and came after efforts by the two countries to deepen cooperation across a wide range of strategic, economic and developmental sectors.
Modi said he was grateful to President Mirziyoyev for the warm reception and the special gesture upon arrival, media reported.
PM Modi said in a post on social media platform X “Landed in Tashkent to a warm welcome by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Grateful to him for the special gesture.”
“This is my fourth visit to Uzbekistan, reflecting the depth and growing momentum of our bilateral relations,” he said.
In a message in Uzbek, Modi also expressed his appreciation for the reception and said his fourth visit reflected the strength and increasing momentum of bilateral relations between the two countries.
The personal reception accorded to Prime Minister Modi by President Mirziyoyev was seen as a reflection of the importance both countries attach to their expanded partnership.
India and Uzbekistan have steadily broadened their engagement in recent years, particularly in areas of trade, connectivity, security, defence, energy and people-to-people exchanges.
PM Modi will hold high-level bilateral discussions with President Mirziyoyev during his two-day State visit to Uzbekistan from August 29 to 30.
Both leaders are expected to host delegation-level talks aimed to strengthencooperation and explore ways to align India’s long-term Viksit Bharat 2047 development vision with Uzbekistan’s Uzbekistan-2030 strategy.
The discussions will cover a wide range of priority sectors, including trade and investment, defence cooperation, digital connectivity, critical minerals, energy, education and health.
The talks will also focus on expanding economic engagement and strengthening connectivity between India and Central Asia, a region that has assumed increasing strategic significance for New Delhi, MEA stated in a press release.
The cultural and historical ties will also form an important part of Prime Minister Modi’s visit.
He is scheduled to pay his respects at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial in Tashkent, commemorating India’s second Prime Minister, who died in the Uzbek capital in January 1966 after the signing of the Tashkent Declaration.
PM Modi will also visit the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, highlighted the longstanding cultural and civilisational connections between India and Uzbekistan.
Tashkent was specially illuminated and decorated in the vibrant colours of the Indian Tricolour, created a distinctive welcome for the Indian delegation and reflected the warmth surrounding Prime Minister Modi’s visit.
Modi will travel to Bishkek in the Kyrgyz Republic for the second leg of his Central Asian tour.
He will participate in the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit, scheduled to be held from August 31 to September 1.
PM Modi is expected to emphasized cooperation on regional security, connectivity and economic opportunity at SCO.
The summit is to provide an important platform for discussions on challenges confronting the wider Eurasian region and for strengthening cooperation among member states.
Modi is also expected to hold a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit, including with major regional and global leaders such as Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The visit came at a time when India is seeking to expand its diplomatic, strategic and economic footprint in Central Asia, a region that occupies an important position in the emerging geopolitical landscape.
New Delhi has emphasized greater connectivity, stronger trade links, energy cooperation and coordinated efforts against terrorism and other security challenges.
Modi’s arrival in Tashkent and the special welcome extended by President Mirziyoyev have set the tone for a visit expected to further consolidate India-Uzbekistan relations while also advancing India’s broader engagement with the strategically important Central Asian region, media reports stated.
