PM Modi hold crucial & strategic bilateral meetings on the sidelines of SCO Summit
PM Narendra Modi holds delegation level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit; Leaders discussed all aspects of enriching our bilateral relations & recognised the positive role of strategic communication in deepening our partnership.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first engagement in Bishkek was the bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping, the first in 2019. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled the Wuhan Summit in April 2018 that gave a boost to strategic communications between the two nations.
On a personal note, PM Modi wished President Xi for his birthday that falls on the 15th of July. He also invited him to India for an informal summit taking forward the Wuhan spirit. Prime Minister expressed hope that this co-operation would grow further.
President Xi spoke of simplification of regulatory processes in trade on a mutually agreed upon list of products including Basmati rice and pharma products. Prime Minister appreciated this move and hoped for an increase in India’s exports of these products. Trade talks between the two nations at a high level will continue to resolve issues that persisit.
Next year will be 70th year of diplomatic relations, both leaders have called for a detailed plan to hold 70 events, 35 each by both countries to be celebrate this landmark moment in India China ties.
The Pakistan issue also came up during the discussions.
Next it was the turn of a bilateral meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked President Putin for his congratulatory message when the Lok Sabha poll results were announced.
Prime Minister thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for bestowing the order of St Andrew the Apostle.
President Putin invited PM Modi for the Eastern Economic Forum meet as the chief guest
Energy co-operation, Co-operation in the field of railways and a special focus on exploring the arctic also emerged.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met the President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Bishkek.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the the SCO Summit on Friday. This will be the second SCO Summit after its expansion in 2017 when India along with Pakistan had joined as members. This is also the first multilateral summit that PM will be attending after the elections.
After Act East, Central Asia is one area where India looks up to as partner and collaborator. This was reflected in PM Modi’s visit to the region in 2015. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold bilateral level talks with Kyrgz President Jeenbekov on the 14th.
Ties with this region are centuries old and dating back to the silk route. When Kyrgyz President was invited as a guest on the swearing is ceremony of PM Modi, it was a clear indication that the impetus of government will be also on strengthening ties with central Asian countries. India Central Asia Dialogue was held in January 2019 in Samarkand and several initiatives were planned within this framework. Kyrgyzstan is also a member of this dialogue.
PM Modi will also jointly inaugurate the India-Kyrgz Business Forum. Bilateral trade with Kyrgyzstan was about $60 million in 2017-18. There are also almost eight thousand Indian students in Kyrgyz Republic.
