PM Narendra Modi flags ‘shared vision’ in Tashkent: Trade and culture to energy, defence

Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his four-day trip to Central Asia on Saturday with a dinner meeting with Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent. The two leaders pledged to deepen cooperation across various sectors, including trade, tourism, health, energy, and defence, as part of a "shared vision."

Modi, who departed from Delhi on Saturday morning, is on a two-day state visit to Uzbekistan before heading to Bishkek for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders’ summit from August 31 to September 1. Upon his arrival, he was warmly welcomed by President Mirziyoyev. Modi expressed his gratitude on X, stating, "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."

Later, Modi visited the Yangi Uzbekistan Monument in Tashkent alongside Mirziyoyev and laid a wreath at the monument. In his departure statement, Modi noted, "In recent years, the India-Uzbekistan Strategic Partnership has seen significant advancement. I look forward to my discussions with President Mirziyoyev on further deepening our cooperation in trade and investment, digital connectivity, defence, energy, and on advancing our shared visions of Viksit Bharat and Yangi Uzbekistan."

He also plans to visit the Shastri Memorial and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies (TSUOS), emphasizing the close cultural and people-to-people ties between the two nations.