Modi visits Gandhi memorial in Bishkek for SCO summit talks

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited a Mahatma Gandhi memorial in Bishkek on Monday and met representatives from various communities during his Kyrgyzstan visit for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.

The Prime Minister had arrived in the Kyrgyz capital on Sunday to attend the 26th SCO Leadership Summit and participate in bilateral meetings with leaders of member nations. Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, received him at the airport, where a traditional Kyrgyz dance performance was organized in his honour.

Cultural reception in Bishkek

At his hotel, Mr. Modi was greeted with chants of "Vande Mataram" and watched a yoga performance set to the patriotic song "Maa Tujhe Salaam" as well as a cultural dance themed around Lord Shiva.

President Sadyr Zhaparov invited Mr. Modi to participate in the SCO summit taking place from August 31 to September 1. The 10-member bloc is commemorating the 25th anniversary of its establishment this year. China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan founded the grouping in 2001, with India and Pakistan becoming full members in 2017, Iran in 2023 and Belarus in 2024.

India's regional priorities

In his departure statement on Saturday, Mr. Modi said he looked forward to advancing India's vision for the region, anchored in "security, connectivity and opportunity", and working with fellow SCO members for a region free from "terrorism, separatism and extremism".

The Kyrgyzstan leg followed a two-day visit to Uzbekistan, where the two countries decided to elevate their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership and set a target of $5 billion in annual trade by 2030.

Source: The Hindu