Narendra Modi will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) together on Saturday as India prepares for a key diplomatic mission in Central Asia. The two leaders will discuss India-Russia relations and regional and international developments in depth in the context of India-Russia relations; it will be a good opportunity for them to discuss the state of relations in the world's greatest power player.
PM Modi will visit the Kyrgyz Republic from August 31 to September 1 at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov. His visit is focused on participating in the 26th SCO Summit, in which the heads of member states will discuss regional cooperation, connectivity, security, trade and economic engagement.
According to Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (West) Sibi George, India and Russia are working towards bilateral talks with their leaders on the sidelines of the summit. He said both sides will review the full gamut of their bilateral relationship during their talks in Bishkek.
The Modi-Putin meeting has significance as it is part of India and Russia's long-standing strategic relationship. Defence cooperation, energy, trade, technology and wider geopolitical issues have remained the key elements in the relationship. The two countries have also kept their cooperation on both bilateral and multilateral platforms.
The SCO Summit will provide India an opportunity for a wider diplomatic engagement with some of the key partners from the region. The organisation brings together large Eurasian countries and has become a forum for regional stability, economic cooperation and connectivity discussions.
PM Modi is also expected to attend the opening ceremony of the Sixth World Nomad Games in Bishkek along with other leaders from SCO member countries. His participation in the event will add a cultural dimension to the visit, and provide an informal interaction with leaders attending the summit.
The official programme of the SCO Leaders' Summit will start with a welcome dinner on August 31. The summit plenary will take place the following day and India is expected to send PM Modi to speak. He will also explain India's approach to regional cooperation and its engagement with the wider SCO community.
The Kyrgyzstan visit is part of a broader Central Asian diplomatic tour by the Prime Minister. In addition to Bishkek, PM Modi will visit Uzbekistan from August 29 to 30 at the invitation of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. This will be his fourth visit to Uzbekistan and demonstrates that India is very much invested in the relationship with the Central Asian country.
India and Uzbekistan have maintained close cooperation in many fields over the years. The two countries grew to a strategic partnership in 2011 and cooperation has been established in trade, investment, connectivity, education, security and cultural exchanges.
The Uzbekistan leg of the visit will therefore complement India's participation in the SCO Summit. The two visits will also help New Delhi develop bilateral relations while also bolstering its broader relationship with Central Asia.
The proposed meeting between Modi and Putin will be one of the most important diplomatic events at the SCO gathering. In addition to reviewing current cooperation, the two sides might discuss those developments that affect their strategic interests.
With India strengthening its ties with Central Asian countries and close relations with Russia, we could expect PM Modi's imminent diplomatic schedule to show that New Delhi will continue to strengthen strategic partnerships and engage in multilateral forums. The meetings in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan may indeed be another step in India’s wider efforts to interact with the region.
