PM Modi leaves for SCO summit in Uzbekistan's Samarkand
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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra left for Samarkand, the Uzbek city, on Thursday to participate in the SCO summit, which will host Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iran President Ebrahim Raisi, along with other world leaders, PTI reported. Uzbekistan is the current chair of the SCO.
The PM tweeted, "Leaving for Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to attend the SCO Summit, which will witness the exchange of views on a wide range of regional and global issues."
Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev had invited Narendra Modi to his country.
Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted a photo of the PM entering a plane and said that the summit provides an opportunity to review the activities of SCO and discuss prospects for future cooperation.
His tweet read, "PM @narendramodi emplanes for Samarkand, Uzbekistan to attend the 22nd Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization."
PM @narendramodi emplanes for Samarkand, Uzbekistan to attend the 22nd Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) September 15, 2022
The Summit will be an opportunity to review the activities of SCO and discuss prospects for future cooperation. pic.twitter.com/Z8isYAJAyP
Before the departure, PM Modi said in a statement that he was looking forward to trading views on topical regional and international issues. Further, expansion and deepening of multifaceted and mutually beneficial cooperation within the SCO would be discussed, too, he said. He also added that he was looking forward to meeting the Uzbek President.
The PM said, "Under the Uzbek chairship, a number of decisions for mutual cooperation are likely to be adopted in areas of trade, economy, culture and tourism."
PM added, "I fondly recall his visit to India in 2018. He also graced the Vibrant Gujarat Summit as Guest of Honour in 2019. In addition, I will hold bilateral meetings with some of the other leaders attending the summit."