PM Modi lands in Uzbekistan on two-nation visit, SCO summit; President Shavkat Mirziyoyev receives him | India News - Hindustan Times

**New Delhi –** Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched down at Tashkent International Airport on Friday, marking the start of a two‑nation visit that also serves as a pre‑summit stop for the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Kazakhstan. He was met by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and a large delegation of Uzbek officials, who escorted the Indian leader to a welcoming ceremony featuring traditional music, a guard of honor and a ceremonial guard of Uzbek flag bearers. The warm reception, described by Modi as “overwhelming,” underscores the deepening diplomatic rapport between New Delhi and Tashkent after a series of high‑level visits over the past three years.

During a bilateral meeting, the two heads of state outlined a “shared vision” that spans trade, culture, energy and defence. The ministries of commerce and industry announced a framework to boost bilateral trade to **$10 billion** by 2028, with particular emphasis on pharmaceuticals, information technology services and Uzbek agricultural produce. In the energy sector, India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy signed a memorandum of understanding with Uzbekistan’s counterpart to explore joint ventures in solar and wind projects, leveraging Uzbekistan’s expansive desert zones. Defence cooperation was also highlighted, with both sides agreeing to conduct joint naval exercises in the Indian Ocean and to exchange intelligence on counter‑terrorism operations—an area Modi stressed as a priority ahead of the SCO summit.

The visit arrives at a critical juncture for the SCO, where member states are intensifying dialogue on regional security, economic integration and counter‑terrorism. India’s participation, bolstered by the Tashkent talks, signals its intent to play a more proactive role in Central Asian affairs and to contribute to a “terror‑free” region, as Modi affirmed in a press briefing. Analysts note that the convergence of economic and security agendas could reinforce the SCO’s relevance amid shifting geopolitical dynamics, while also providing India with a strategic foothold in a region rich in natural resources and situated along emerging trade corridors. The next phase of the trip will see Modi travel to Astana for the SCO summit, where he is expected to advance the agenda set out in Tashkent.