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

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic from August 29 to September 1, the ministry of external affairs said on Thursday.During his four-day visit, PM Modi will undertake a bilateral visit to Tashkent and participate in the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek.PM Modi will also hold bilateral meetings with SCO leaders on the sidelines of the summit. According to news agency PTI, Putin will also be among the leaders with whom PM Modi will hold bilateral meetings on the margins of the summit.PM Modi is also expected to visit the Shastri Memorial in Tashkent and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies.This will be PM Modi's fourth visit and his second bilateral visit to Uzbekistan, according to MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George.Addressing a special briefing on the Prime Minister's visit, MEA Secretary (West) said India and Uzbekistan have maintained "extensive and fruitful engagements" over the years in both bilateral and multilateral formats.Highlighting the depth of economic ties, the MEA Secretary said India is among Uzbekistan's top 10 trading partners, with bilateral trade and investments together close to USD 1 billion."We have wide-ranging cooperation in the fields of critical minerals, pharma, education, information technology, and the health sector," he said.The summit coincides with the SCO's 25th anniversary of its founding. After serving as an observer since 2005, India became a full member of the organisation in 2017.From August 31 to September 1, the Prime Minister will visit Bishkek, George stated.According to the MEA, the organisation's main goal was to combat the three "evils" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, which continue to present challenges.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.