PM Modi begins four-day Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan visit for SCO summit; what's on agenda - The Times of India

**Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins a four‑day Central Asian tour** that will see him attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, before moving on to the Kyrgyz Republic. The trip, which runs from 15 to 18 August 2024, marks Modi’s first visit to the region since India became a full SCO member in 2017 and underscores New Delhi’s push to deepen ties with its western neighbours. In a televised address at the airport in New Delhi, Modi said the mission aims to “strengthen a region that is free from terror, resilient and prosperous,” echoing India’s broader foreign‑policy goal of a stable neighbourhood that can support its economic and security interests.

The summit’s agenda centres on three core pillars: **security cooperation**, **connectivity and trade**, and **regional stability**. Delegates are slated to discuss coordinated counter‑terrorism measures, especially the fight against extremist groups operating in Afghanistan and across the “Greater Central Asian” belt. Parallel talks will focus on expanding the International North‑South Transport Corridor, bolstering digital and renewable‑energy linkages, and finalising a “Central Asia‑India Economic Partnership” that could unlock new markets for Indian pharmaceuticals, information‑technology services and agricultural products. Leaders are also expected to review the SCO’s role in fostering a multilateral framework for addressing climate change and pandemic preparedness.

Bilateral meetings with President **Shavkat Mirziyoyev** of Uzbekistan and President **Sadyr Japarov** of Kyrgyzstan yielded a slate of memoranda of understanding covering **oil‑and‑gas cooperation, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and joint research in space and cyber‑security**. Modi highlighted India’s “Act‑East” and “Neighbourhood First” strategies, stressing that deeper economic integration with Central Asia will complement India’s engagements in Southeast Asia and the Indo‑Pacific. Observers note that the visit positions India as a counterbalance to China’s Belt‑and‑Road initiatives, while also cementing its role in a SCO that now includes all of the region’s major powers.

---