Indian prime minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (15) reached Samarkand, the city of the central Asian republic of Uzbekistan, to attend the 22nd summit of the heads of state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Among other top leaders taking part in the event are Russian president Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
Modi is visiting Uzbekistan at the invitation of its president Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
He is expected to hold bilateral meetings with other leaders on the sidelines of the summit, including with Putin, and Mirziyoyev, among others.
“Leaving for Samarkand, Uzbekistan to attend the SCO Summit, which will witness the exchange of views on a wide range of regional and global issues,” the prime minister tweeted before his departure from New Delhi.
He later posted pictures of his landing in Samarkand on Twitter. He also posted it in Uzbek language.
Posting a picture of Modi boarding the plane for Samarkand, ministry of external affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the summit will be an opportunity to review the activities of the SCO and discuss prospects for future cooperation.
“PM @narendramodi emplanes for Samarkand, Uzbekistan to attend the 22nd Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization,” he tweeted.
In his pre-departure statement, the prime minister said he was looking forward to exchanging views on topical regional and global issues and on expansion and further deepening of multifaceted and mutually beneficial cooperation within the SCO.
Uzbekistan is the current chair of the SCO while India is the next chair.
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