Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Bishkek on Sunday to attend the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit. His arrival marks the second leg of his two-country visit after concluding a state visit to Uzbekistan.

He reached the Kyrgyz capital at the invitation of President Sadyr Zhaparov. The summit will convene leaders of member states to deliberate on regional and international issues and explore ways to strengthen cooperation within the grouping.

The Prime Minister’s arrival was warmly received by members of the Indian diaspora and local residents. Deepak Joshi, an Indian national living in Bishkek, described the visit as a matter of honour and privilege for Indians abroad.

He credited PM Modi for the transformation India has witnessed over the past twelve years, recalling how his father’s village in Uttarakhand received electricity in 2017.

Another resident, Gasanova, expressed excitement at the Prime Minister’s presence. She mentioned learning Hindi at the Indian Embassy and emphasised her admiration for India and its people. She noted that the community was eager to greet him and celebrate his arrival.

Before arriving in Bishkek, PM Modi completed a two-day state visit to Uzbekistan. During this visit, he held bilateral and delegation-level talks with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Both sides elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and agreed on a roadmap covering trade, investment, infrastructure, digital public infrastructure, Artificial Intelligence, critical minerals, energy, space, agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, education and culture.

India and Uzbekistan also set a target to increase bilateral trade to $5 billion by 2030, up from the current level of more than $1 billion. The focus will be on market access, connectivity and banking and payment systems.

As he departed Tashkent, PM Modi expressed gratitude to President Mirziyoyev for his hospitality and personal commitment to strengthening bilateral ties. In a post on X, he thanked Uzbekistan and highlighted the warmth and attention to detail shown during his visit.

Following the SCO Summit in Bishkek, PM Modi’s participation is expected to reinforce India’s engagement with the organisation and its Central Asian partners.

The summit coincides with the SCO’s 25th anniversary, making it a significant milestone in regional cooperation. India’s involvement is anticipated to deepen strategic and economic ties across the region, particularly in areas of security, connectivity and shared development.

ANI