New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed on Saturday for a four-day foreign visit to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. He will be visiting the two Central Asian countries from August 29 to September 1. During the first leg of his tour, Prime Minister Modi will travel to Tashkent, where he is scheduled to hold delegation-level talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The discussions are expected to cover bilateral relations, trade and investment, defence and security cooperation, energy, digital connectivity, education and people-to-people ties.
Prime Minister Modi is also scheduled to visit the Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies. These visits will highlight the historic, cultural and people-to-people ties between India and Uzbekistan. In the second phase of his visit, the Prime Minister will travel to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, to attend the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic over the coming days as part of India’s efforts to deepen its engagement with Central Asia. During his visit to Tashkent, Prime Minister Modi will hold bilateral talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The discussions are expected to focus on strengthening the India–Uzbekistan friendship and expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
India–Uzbekistan Relations
India and Uzbekistan established diplomatic relations on March 18, 1992, following Uzbekistan’s independence. The relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2011.
The two countries maintain regular political dialogue and cooperate in several areas, including:
- Trade and investment;
- Defence and security;
- Counter-terrorism;
- Pharmaceuticals and healthcare;
- Information technology;
- Education and capacity-building;
- Agriculture;
- Culture and tourism; and
- Regional connectivity.
India and Uzbekistan are also partners in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and engage through the India–Central Asia Dialogue. Their cooperation has expanded in recent years, with both sides seeking to improve economic ties, increase business exchanges and strengthen connectivity with the wider Central Asian region.
The cultural connection between the two countries is reflected in Uzbekistan’s longstanding interest in Indian history, languages, cinema, yoga and traditional culture. The memorials dedicated to Lal Bahadur Shastri and Mahatma Gandhi in Tashkent symbolise the depth of these historical and cultural links.
PM Modi’s Programme in the Kyrgyz Republic
In the Kyrgyz Republic, Prime Minister Modi will participate in the SCO Summit in Bishkek. He is expected to hold both multilateral and bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit.
The meetings will provide an opportunity to discuss regional and global developments, strengthen cooperation among SCO member states and advance India’s engagement with Central Asia.
India–Kyrgyz Republic Relations
India and the Kyrgyz Republic established diplomatic relations in 1992. The two countries share friendly relations and have developed cooperation in areas such as:
- Defence and military training;
- Security and counter-terrorism;
- Trade and investment;
- Healthcare and pharmaceuticals;
- Information technology;
- Education;
- Agriculture;
- Culture; and
- Development cooperation.
India has supported capacity-building and human-resource development in the Kyrgyz Republic through training programmes and educational exchanges. Defence cooperation has also grown through military training, exchanges and joint exercises.
During Prime Minister Modi’s official visit to Kyrgyzstan in June 2019, India and the Kyrgyz Republic signed several agreements and adopted a five-year roadmap for trade and economic cooperation. India also announced a US$200 million Line of Credit for development projects in the country.
The Kyrgyz Republic is an important partner for India in Central Asia because of its location, its role in regional organisations and its potential in sectors such as hydropower, mining, agriculture, tourism and connectivity.
Importance of the Visit
India’s relations with Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic form an important part of its wider Central Asia policy. The region is significant for India because of its strategic location, economic potential and role in regional security.
Through bilateral engagements and platforms such as the SCO and the India–Central Asia Dialogue, India is seeking to expand cooperation in:
- Trade and investment;
- Connectivity;
- Digital technology;
- Science and innovation;
- Space cooperation;
- Healthcare;
- Education;
- Tourism; and
- Counter-terrorism.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit is expected to reinforce India’s longstanding ties with Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic while providing fresh momentum to India’s strategic and economic engagement with the Central Asian region.