New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has left for a four-day visit to Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic, beginning August 29. The visit will focus on strengthening India’s strategic partnerships in Central Asia, expanding bilateral cooperation and participating in the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.
Two-day state visit to Uzbekistan
PM Modi’s first stop will be Tashkent, where he will undertake a state visit from August 29 to 30 at the invitation of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
This will be PM Modi’s fourth visit to Uzbekistan. During his stay, the two leaders are scheduled to hold delegation-level talks aimed at further strengthening the India-Uzbekistan strategic partnership.
The discussions are expected to cover trade and investment, defence, digital connectivity, energy, education and people-to-people ties. The two sides will also exchange views on their respective development visions of Viksit Bharat 2047 and Uzbekistan-2030.
PM Modi is also scheduled to visit the Shastri Memorial and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, highlighting the longstanding cultural and people-to-people links between the two countries.
Strong economic and defence ties
India and Uzbekistan have expanded cooperation across several areas in recent years. Bilateral trade is around $1 billion, with medical, mining and defence sectors offering further scope for cooperation.
The two countries established a Joint Working Group on Defence in 2019 and regularly participate in the DUSTLIK military exercise. The seventh edition of the exercise was held in Uzbekistan in April 2026.
PM Modi to attend SCO Summit in Bishkek
From Tashkent, PM Modi will travel to Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, where he will participate in the 26th SCO Summit from August 31 to September 1 at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov.
The 2026 summit marks the 25th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. India has been a full member of the SCO since 2017.
At the summit, PM Modi is expected to present India’s priorities around Security, Connectivity and Opportunity. He has also said that India will work with SCO partners towards a region free from the threats of terrorism, separatism and extremism.
Bilateral meetings with SCO leaders
During his time in Bishkek, PM Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings with other SCO leaders on the sidelines of the summit.
The visit also provides an opportunity for India to engage with Central Asian countries on regional security, connectivity, economic cooperation and broader strategic issues.
Reports also indicate that PM Modi is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit, although the detailed schedule of bilateral meetings may be confirmed separately.
Opening ceremony of World Nomad Games
PM Modi will also attend the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games in the Kyrgyz Republic.
The event is being presented as a celebration of the region’s rich cultural heritage and provides another platform for strengthening people-to-people and cultural connections between India and Central Asia.
India’s broader Central Asia engagement
The four-day tour comes amid India’s continuing efforts to deepen engagement with Central Asian countries through bilateral partnerships as well as multilateral platforms such as the SCO.
The government has described the visit as an opportunity to strengthen strategic, economic and civilisational ties with the region while advancing India’s interests in security, connectivity, energy and trade.
PM Modi has said he expects the visit to contribute to peace, stability and prosperity and further strengthen India’s strategic partnerships in Central Asia.
