PM Modi Central Asia Visit: Student Interaction in Tashkent, Putin Meeting at SCO Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Central Asia visit has combined cultural diplomacy, educational cooperation and high-level strategic engagements, with a key bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin scheduled on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek.

PM Modi interacts with students in Tashkent

During his visit to Uzbekistan, Modi interacted with Indologists and students at the Mahatma Gandhi Center in Tashkent. He encouraged greater academic research on India and the translation of Indian subjects and literature into Uzbek.

India and Uzbekistan also announced a Hindi scholarship in memory of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and established a Sanskrit chair at Tashkent University.

More than 2,700 Uzbek students have benefited from India’s Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme, reflecting the educational and capacity-building ties between the two countries.

Modi arrives in Bishkek for SCO Summit

After concluding his Uzbekistan visit, Modi travelled to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to participate in the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.

The SCO meeting provides India with an opportunity to engage with major regional powers while advancing its interests on security, connectivity and strategic autonomy.

Modi-Putin bilateral meeting

On the sidelines of the SCO summit, Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The discussions are expected to cover several important areas, including energy cooperation, defence ties, delayed defence deliveries, the India-Russia trade imbalance and Russian crude oil imports.

The meeting comes amid continuing efforts by both countries to maintain their longstanding strategic partnership while navigating changing geopolitical and economic conditions.

India’s priorities at SCO

At the SCO summit, India is expected to push for greater consensus on counter-terrorism and promote regional connectivity through initiatives such as the Chabahar port and International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

New Delhi is also expected to emphasise its policy of strategic autonomy, seeking to maintain strong relationships with different global powers while protecting India’s independent foreign-policy interests.