Look Forward To Exchanging Views On Mutual Cooperation In Trade, Deepening Association Within SCO: PM Modi

PM Modi At SCO Summit 2022: Launched in Shanghai in June 2001, the SCO has eight full members, including its six founding members, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his departure statement released for the press by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Thursday said he will be visiting Samarkand at the invitation of President of Uzbekistan to attend the SCO Summit. "I will be visiting Samarkand at the invitation of President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to attend the Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)," read the statement released by the PMO.

"At the SCO Summit, I look forward to exchanging views on topical, regional and international issues, the expansion of SCO and on further deepening of multifaceted and mutually beneficial cooperation within the Organization. Under the Uzbek Chairship, a number of decisions for mutual cooperation are likely to be adopted in areas of trade, economy, culture and tourism," the release read further.

The statement also spoke about the meeting scheduled between Prime Minister Modi and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. A mention was also made of PM Modi meeting other world leaders present during the Summit. However it did not name any specific leaders.

Earlier Today, at a media briefing, the MEA informed that PM Modi will attend the SCO Summit on Friday morning. "The Summit usually has two sessions - a restricted session, only for the SCO member states and then an extended session likely includes participation by observers and special invitees," Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said, as per news agency ANI.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will hold its first in-person summit after the COVID-19 pandemic in Uzbekistan’s Samarkand. The two-day summit will provide the opportunity for all its eight heads of state to hold meetings and bilateral talks on the sidelines of the summit on pressing global and regional issues of common concern.

Launched in Shanghai in June 2001, the SCO has eight full members, including its six founding members, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan joined as full members in 2017.