PM Modi visits Uzbekistan for 4th time, holds talks with President Mirziyoyev
Synopsis
Modi's fourth trip to Tashkent is more than a diplomatic courtesy call — it is a structured push to expand India's Central Asian footprint into critical minerals, space, and digital connectivity, just before a high-stakes SCO summit in Bishkek where India's multilateral positioning will be closely watched.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi arrived in Tashkent on 30 August for a two-day bilateral visit — his fourth to Uzbekistan.
Delegation-level talks with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will cover trade, defence, digital connectivity, energy, education , and critical minerals .
The two leaders will align on 'Viksit Bharat 2047' and 'Uzbekistan-2030' developmental visions.
Modi will visit the Shastri Memorial and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies.
Following Tashkent, Modi travels to Bishkek on 31 August for the 26th SCO Summit , marking 25 years of the organisation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tashkent on Saturday, 30 August for a two-day bilateral visit at the invitation of Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, marking his fourth visit to the Central Asian nation. The trip is aimed at deepening the strategic partnership between India and Uzbekistan across trade, defence, technology, and people-to-people ties.
Agenda for Delegation-Level Talks
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to hold delegation-level talks with President Mirziyoyev, with the two leaders set to review cooperation in trade and investment, defence, digital connectivity, energy, education, and people-to-people domains, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). They will also align on advancing the shared developmental visions of 'Viksit Bharat 2047' and 'Uzbekistan-2030'.
Discussions are expected to span critical minerals, healthcare, space, technology, culture, and business-to-business engagement — signalling a broadening of the bilateral agenda beyond traditional diplomatic touchpoints.
Cultural and Academic Engagements
On the cultural front, Prime Minister Modi is expected to visit the Shastri Memorial in Tashkent — a site of deep historical significance, marking where former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri passed away in 1966 — and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies. He will also interact with Indologists and scholars at the university.
Sibi George, Secretary (West) at the MEA, said the visit would 'highlight the long-standing cultural ties between India and Uzbekistan, as well as the important role of academic and people-to-people exchange in further strengthening the bilateral relationship.'
History of Bilateral Engagement
Modi's previous visits to Uzbekistan were in 2015 — as part of a Central Asia tour — and in 2016 and 2022 to attend Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summits. The Uzbek President visited India for a State Visit in 2018 and attended the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in 2019. The two leaders have also met on the sidelines of COP28 in Dubai in 2023, the BRICS Summit in Kazan in 2024, and the SCO Summit in Tianjin, China, in 2025.
Onward to Bishkek for SCO Summit
Following the Tashkent visit, Prime Minister Modi will travel to Bishkek on 31 August to participate in the 26th SCO Summit. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the SCO, with the theme '25 Years of the SCO: Together Towards Sustainable Peace, Development, and Prosperity'. The summit programme includes a welcome dinner on 31 August and a plenary session the following day, where Modi will deliver his remarks. Several bilateral meetings are also being planned on the sidelines in Bishkek.
Secretary George confirmed that the Prime Minister's visit 'will reaffirm the close, multi-faceted and growing strategic partnership between India and Uzbekistan.' With India deepening ties across Central Asia, the Tashkent visit sets the diplomatic tone ahead of a consequential multilateral engagement.
Point of View
Technology, and business-to-business engagement in the agenda signals ambition, but bilateral trade between India and Uzbekistan remains modest relative to the rhetoric. The real test of this visit will be whether the agenda items translate into signed frameworks or remain aspirational bullet points. With the SCO summit immediately following, Modi's Tashkent positioning also carries a multilateral signal — India is engaging Central Asia bilaterally before it engages it collectively, a sequencing that is diplomatically deliberate.
NationPress
29 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is PM Modi visiting Uzbekistan in August 2025?
PM Modi is visiting Tashkent on 30 August 2025 at the invitation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev for a two-day bilateral visit aimed at strengthening the India-Uzbekistan strategic partnership. The agenda covers trade, defence, digital connectivity, critical minerals, space, and people-to-people ties.
How many times has PM Modi visited Uzbekistan before?
This is PM Modi's fourth visit to Uzbekistan. He previously visited in 2015 as part of a Central Asia tour, and in 2016 and 2022 to attend SCO Summits held in the country.
What is the SCO Summit 2025 and where is it being held?
The 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit is being held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and marks the 25th anniversary of the organisation. PM Modi will attend the summit on 31 August and 1 September, delivering remarks at the plenary session.
What cultural sites will PM Modi visit in Tashkent?
PM Modi is scheduled to visit the Shastri Memorial — where former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri passed away in 1966 — and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, where he will also meet Indologists and scholars.
What are 'Viksit Bharat 2047' and 'Uzbekistan-2030'?
'Viksit Bharat 2047' is India's long-term development vision targeting a developed-nation status by the centenary of its independence. 'Uzbekistan-2030' is Uzbekistan's national development strategy. Modi and Mirziyoyev are expected to align these two frameworks during their talks to identify common priorities.
