PM Modi Begins Uzbekistan Visit, Holds Talks With President Mirziyoyev

Prime Minister Narendra Modi started his day on Sunday with a yoga session at the Yoga Federation of Uzbekistan. This was followed by bilateral discussions between him and the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, at Kuksaroy Presidential Palace.

In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, “Uzbekistan loves Yoga.”

In an event held on Saturday evening in Tashkent, PM Modi and the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, promised to enhance cooperation between the two nations in a number of fields like trade, tourism, healthcare, energy and defence, in a “joint vision.”

PM Modi begins Uzbekistan visit

PM Modi departed Delhi early on Saturday morning for a two-day state visit to Uzbekistan. He will then travel to Bishkek for the August 31–September summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders.

President Mirziyoyev received him at the airport. Following his arrival, PM Modi said on X:

“Landed in Tashkent to a warm welcome by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Grateful to him for the special gesture. This is my fourth visit to Uzbekistan, reflecting the depth and growing momentum of our bilateral relations.”

Later, PM Modi and Mirziyoyev visited the Yangi Uzbekistan Monument in Tashkent, where they laid a wreath. He also highlighted the strong “cultural and people-to-people ties that bind our two countries” and said he would visit the Mahatma Gandhi Centre and the Shastri Memorial at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies (TSUOS).

India-Uzbekistan talks to focus on trade, healthcare, culture

The areas of discussion during the meetings between PM Modi and Mirziyoyev include "trade and investment, critical minerals, healthcare, business-to-business cooperation, education, space, technology, arts, culture and people-to-people interactions," as per MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George.

India and Uzbekistan also collaborate in the area of arts and culture. Two ICCR Chairs operate in Uzbekistan. Hindi has been taught at TSUOS since 1947, whereas the Hindi Chair has existed since 2024. TSUOS has translated works of Rabindranath Tagore, Premchand and Amrita Pritam to promote Hindi language and literature. Dr Mohd Ali translated Valmiki Ramayana into Uzbek in 1978.

India-Uzbekistan relations strengthen through healthcare, dialogue

Around 14,000 citizens from Uzbekistan have visited India for medical treatment. This makes Uzbekistan the third-largest source of medical tourists coming to India. Leading Indian hospitals have operations in Uzbekistan and conduct OPD camps in neurology, oncology and cardiology.

Political engagement between India and Uzbekistan happens through the India-Central Asia Summit and India-Central Asia Dialogue at the level of foreign ministers. The first India-Central Asia Summit took place on January 27, 2022.