Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm welcome from the Indian community in Bishkek on Sunday after arriving in Kyrgyzstan to attend the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.
India has been a member of the grouping since 2017.
Members of the Indian community greeted the Prime Minister with chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram”. “From Bharat to Bishkek, a very special welcome by the Indian community earlier this evening,” PM Modi said in a post on X. Grateful to Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, for the warm welcome,” PM Modi said. The Prime Minister said he looked forward to advancing India’s vision for the region, centred on “Security, Connectivity and Opportunity”. He also stressed the need for the region to remain free from terrorism, separatism and extremism, which he said continue to pose a threat to peace and stability in the neighbourhood and beyond.
PM Modi also watched cultural performances by people from Kyrgyzstan, while a group of yoga enthusiasts performed yoga to welcome him. PM Modi was received at Manas International Airport by Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic. “Landed in Bishkek a short while ago. He added that he would hold bilateral meetings with several leaders and attend the SCO Summit over the following two days. Several other bilateral engagements are also scheduled during his visit.
Before leaving for his two-nation visit to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan on Saturday, PM Modi said India would continue to play an active and constructive role in the SCO.
So much transformation has taken place in the last 12 years that it’s unbelievable, and PM Modi deserves huge credit for this,” Joshi said. Recalling developments in his home state of Uttarakhand, Joshi said his father’s village received electricity in 2017. The two countries also set a target of increasing bilateral trade from more than USD 1 billion currently to USD 5 billion by 2030, with a focus on market access, connectivity and banking and payment systems. With the SCO Summit in Bishkek, PM Modi’s visit is expected to further strengthen India’s engagement with the grouping and its Central Asian partners as the SCO marks 25 years of its existence. (with agencies input)
PM Modi said he was confident that the visit would strengthen India’s strategic partnerships in Central Asia, deepen the country’s civilisational ties with the region and promote shared goals of peace, stability and prosperity. Deepak Joshi, an Indian national living in Bishkek, described PM Modi’s visit as an “honour and great privilege” for Indians living abroad. “We as NRIs feel absolutely honoured that the value of our passports, the respect, and everything has changed in the last 10-12 years,” he said. We like India,” she said. Gratitude to President Mirziyoyev for his warmth, attention to detail and personal commitment to the India-Uzbekistan friendship,” he said on X.
During his Kyrgyzstan visit, PM Modi is also expected to meet President Sadyr Zhaparov and other SCO leaders. He will attend the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games, which celebrates the living heritage of Central Asia. Members of the Indian community in Bishkek expressed their excitement over the Prime Minister’s arrival. “It is kind of an honour and great privilege that the Prime Minister is coming here. He also praised the government’s defence initiatives and referred to Operation Sindoor. Zara Beiim Gasanova, a Kyrgyzstan national who is learning Hindi at the Indian Embassy, also expressed her excitement. “I am learning Hindi at the Indian Embassy. I am very excited that PM Modi is coming, and we are all standing here, ready to greet and see him. We love India; we love the Indian people. Kyrgyzstan is hoping PM Modi’s visit will provide a major boost to bilateral economic ties, investment and trade. PM Modi arrived in Bishkek after concluding a two-day state visit to Uzbekistan, where he held bilateral and delegation-level talks with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. During the visit, India and Uzbekistan upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and agreed on an ambitious roadmap covering trade and investment, infrastructure, digital public infrastructure, Artificial Intelligence, critical minerals, energy, space, agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, education and culture. Before leaving Tashkent, PM Modi thanked President Mirziyoyev for his hospitality and commitment to strengthening India-Uzbekistan ties. “Thank you Uzbekistan! During the visit, PM Modi also paid floral tribute to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri at the Shastri Memorial in Tashkent. He and President Mirziyoyev jointly planted a tree in the Presidential Palace garden as part of India’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative and Uzbekistan’s ‘Yashil Makon’ green efforts, highlighting their shared commitment to environmental sustainability. PM Modi was also conferred with the ‘Oliy Darajali Do’stlik’ Order, Uzbekistan’s highest honour for foreign leaders, in recognition of his contribution to strengthening friendship between the two countries. India and Uzbekistan further agreed to cooperate on the restoration and conservation of ancient Buddhist heritage sites in Uzbekistan and expand youth exchange programmes.
Kyrgyzstan’s Investment Minister Ravshanbek Sabirov said on Saturday that the country was keen to attract more Indian companies, particularly in infrastructure, renewable energy, tourism, technology and agro-industry.
