PM Modi to meet Putin on SCO summit sidelines during Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan from August 29 to September 1. During his four-day trip, he will attend the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek. PM Modi will also meet with SCO leaders during the summit. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to be among the leaders with whom Modi will have bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the event.

This will be Modi's fourth visit to Uzbekistan, and his second bilateral visit. India and Uzbekistan have had considerable and beneficial interactions over the years, both in bilateral and multilateral formats. According to the MEA Secretary (West), India is one of Uzbekistan's top 10 trading partners, with bilateral trade and investments amounting to nearly USD 1 billion.

Ties between the two countries are strong in areas such as critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, education, information technology, and the health sector. The SCO summit takes place during the organization's 25th anniversary. India became a full member of the SCO in 2017, having been an observer since 2005. The main objective of the organization is to combat terrorism, separatism, and extremism, which continue to pose challenges.