Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit and hold a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines on Monday.
“Landed in Bishkek a short while ago. Grateful to Mr. Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic for the warm welcome. Will be meeting various leaders bilaterally and attending the SCO Summit tomorrow and the day after,” said PM Modi in a post on X after his arrival in Kyrgyz Republic on Sunday.
PM Modi also shared glimpses of his arrival on X. “From Bharat to Bishkek, a very special welcome by the Indian community earlier this evening,” he said.
A traditional Kyrgyz dance performance was also held at the airport to welcome the Prime Minister.
PM Modi was greeted with chants of ‘Vande Mataram’ on his arrival at a hotel.
He also witnessed a vibrant yoga performance to the patriotic beats of ‘Maa Tujhe Salaam’. A Lord Shiva-themed cultural dance performance was also performed upon his arrival at the hotel.
PM Modi is visiting Kyrgyz Republic at the invitation of President Sadyr Zhaparov to participate in the 26th SCO Leadership Summit on August 31-September 1.
The SCO Summit brings together ten Member States, fifteen Partner countries and two observer countries to advance dialogue and cooperation on regional and global issues.
SCO, which is marking its 25 years, was founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan with India and Pakistan joining as full members in 2017, followed by Iran in 2023 and Belarus in 2024.
In his departure statement on Saturday, PM Modi said he looked forward to advancing India’s vision for the region, anchored in “security, connectivity and opportunity, and to working with fellow members for a region free from the scourge of terrorism, separatism and extremism, which continue to threaten peace and stability”.
“I also look forward to meeting President Zhaparov and other SCO leaders,” he said.
He will also attend the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games.
The Prime Minister said this visit will strengthen India’s strategic partnerships in Central Asia, deepen its civilisational connect with the region, and advance a shared pursuit of peace, stability and prosperity.
PM Modi arrived in Bishkek after a two-day trip to Uzbekistan, during which the two countries decided to elevate their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership and set a target of USD 5 billion in annual trade by 2030.
(With PTI inputs)
