Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has no plans to meet his Pakistani counterpart Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) being held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on September 15 and 16.

Reports: No plans for Modi-Shehbaz meeting on sidelines of SCO summit

The 22nd Summit of the Council of Heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States is set to begin in the historical city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will come face-to-face on Friday for the first time since deadly border clashes in 2020.

22nd SCO Summit: Modi, Xi to come face-to-face for first time since border clashes

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is in Samarkand, addressed the SCO leaders on day two of the summit. Now during his speech, the Indian Prime Minister emphasized on how the country supports mutual trust among SCO leaders.

WION Dispatch: SCO Summit 2022: 'We are supporting innovation in every sector'

Iran is set to become a permanent member of the eight-member regional body. Tehran signed a memorandum of obligations which brings it one step closer to becoming a permanent member of the Shanghai Corporation Organization.

WION Dispatch: Iran signs memorandum of obligation, gain full SCO membership after 15 years

Heads of 11 member states attended day one of the SCO Summit in Samarkand and at dinner on Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping was missing from those pictures.

SCO Summit 2022: China's Xi skips dinner with Putin, allies as Covid precaution

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to have key bilateral meet with Russia's President Vladimir Putin, Iranian and Uzbek leaders. He will be exchanging his views on regional and international issues during his meet with the Russian President. PM Modi will also be discussing issues of strategic ability, situation in the Asia Pacific and bilateral cooperation within the United Nations and G20.

SCO summit day 2 : India's PM Modi to hold bilateral meet with Iranian, Uzbek and Russian leaders

It is day 2 of the SCO Summit and the world leaders have arrived at Samarkand, Uzbekistan for the meet. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan just a few moments ago. This is their meeting on the sidelines of the SCO Summit.

SCO Summit 2022: Modi Putin to talk on strategic ability

It is day 2 of the SCO Summit and the world leaders have arrived at Samarkand, Uzbekistan for the meet. The leaders of the organisation are all set to discuss regional security challenges and energy supplies.

SCO Summit 2022 | Xi: Will support India for Presidency next year

Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi meets world leaders at SCO summit, Uzbekistan. During his address PM Modi said that, "We are focussing on people-centric development model. We are supporting innovation in every sector."

22nd SCO Summit: PM Modi addresses SCO leaders, promotes India's innovation

SCO leaders gather for the main meet in Samarkand, key Modi-Putin meeting today

Day 2 of SCO Summit: First in-person meet since the pandemic, talks between leaders underway

Indian foreign ministry held media briefing ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Uzbekistan visit. During this, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said that PM Modi will reach Samarkand on Thursday evening for the SCO summit and is likely to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and some other leaders on the sidelines of the summit.

Indian foreign ministry briefing on SCO summit: PM Modi to travel to Uzbekistan today

The leaders of China and Russia- Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, are making rare trips to Uzbekistan for SCO Summit amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine. Both China and Russia have long sought to position the SCO as an alternative to the western multilateral groups, they could possibly be closer to this aim now than ever before.

Putin, Xi make rare trip abroad for SCO Summit in Uzbekistan

The SCO Summit is all set to take place in Samarkand, an Uzbek city that is rich in history and culture. WION's Siddhant Sibbal tells you more about the city that is set to host this mega summit.

WION Ground Report: A glimpse of Uzbekistan's cultural capital Samarkand

WION's Siddhant Sibbal speaks to Rakhmatulla I Nurimbetov, National Coordinator for Uzbekistan for SCO. Talking about the expansion, Nurimbetov said "will sign MoU with Iran this time and next time, during Indian summit of SCO, Iran will become a full member of the group".

''Iran to be permanent SCO member from next year', says Uzbek SCO coordinator Nurimbetov

In Uzbekistan bullet train started functioning a few years ago and now it has become a cheap and fast mode of transport. High-speed rail links the past with the future. WION's Siddhant Sibbal gets you the ground report.

WION Ground Report: The Tashkent-Samarkand high-speed rail

China’s President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan, which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also attend.

SCO Summit 2022: Chinese President Xi Jinping to hold talks with Russia's Putin at Uzbekistan summit

The 22nd summit of the council of heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states is set to take place in the historical city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan from September 15 to 16.

22nd summit of council of the heads of SCO member states to begin in Uzbekistan today

As Samarkand hosts the SCO or Shanghai cooperation organization summit, we bring you sights of this fabled city of Uzbekistan. Our correspondent Sidhant Sibal travels to Gur e Amir, the tomb of Timur and explains its significance.

Uzbekistan: Tomb of Timur and its connect with India

The leaders of the West will have their eyes on the Central Asian nation of Uzbekistan. The country is hosting the Shanghai cooperation organization Summit this year where the grouping is said to expand further.

Kremlin: SCO summit will showcase an alternative to west, Putin looks to form anti-west bloc

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization was formed in 2001 after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.The grouping includes Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. The SCO has focused on regional security and counter-terrorism among other key focus areas.

What made India join the SCO?

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Central Asia this week on his first trip out of the country since the COVID-19 pandemic, attending the regional Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Uzbekistan.

Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit Central Asia on first post-pandemic foreign trip

The bullet train is something that has been much talked about in India, it is being built with Japanese support and plans to connect Mumbai and Ahmedabad. In Uzbekistan bullet train started functioning a few years ago and now it has become a cheap and fast mode of transport, our correspondent Siddhant Sibbal brings in more.

WION Dispatch | The Tashkent-Samarkand high-speed rail | WION ground report from Uzbekistan

As per reports, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi might hold some more one-to-one talks with other key leaders from the member countries with particular focus on China and Pakistan.

Leaders of India, China, Pakistan to be under same roof for SCO meet

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on September 15 and 16. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan's ambassador to India spoke to WION and stated that Iran's entry in SCO will expand its trade ties with the member states and this will change the geopolitics of the region.

SCO summit: Uzbekistan's Ambassador Dilshod Akhatov speaks to WION

WION's Siddhant Sibbal brings you a ground report from Gur-e-Amir, mausoleum of the 14th-century Mongol conqueror Timur in Samarkand, Uzbekistan and also tells you its significance.

Gur-e-Amir: Timur's mausoleum in Samarkand | WION ground report

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Uzbekistan on September 15 and 16 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit where he is expected to meet Russian Vladimir Putin.

Indian PM Narendra Modi likely to meet Russian Prez Vladimir Putin in Uzbekistan

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan's cultural capital Samarkand will be the first time both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will be under the same roof since the Galwan Valley incident. But suspense remains if they will hold a bilateral meeting.

As of now, there is no confirmation over the face-to-face meeting between the Indian and the Chinese leadership at the Samarkand SCO summit.&nbsp;Any meeting will be significant given how ties have been faring, but a breakthrough looks less likely, especially in the wake of the 2020 Galwan Valley skirmish.&nbsp;

In 2020, China's&nbsp;aggressive action at the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers.&nbsp;Beijing, after much delay, accepted that it lost four of its soldiers—a claim that remains doubtful given Beijing's track record on transparency.

While disengagement has taken place like the Hot Springs-Gogra area, China continues to violate the 1993 and 1996 pact as it amasses troops at the border areas.

From Delhi, the message has been clear as External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has several times said that the ties have been going through a "difficult phase".

Last month, Jaishankar said, "Much of the future of Asia depends on how relations between India and China develop in the foreseeable future. For ties to return to a positive trajectory and remain sustainable, they must be based on the three mutuals: mutual sensitivity, mutual respect, and mutual interest.”

He added, "Their current status is, of course, well known to all of you. I can only reiterate that the state of the border will determine the state of the relationship".

Since the Galwan incident, India has banned several Chinese apps in the country, increased scrutiny on Chinese investment and increased infrastructure development on the border.&nbsp;

But a week before the Samarkand SCO summit, India and China announced disengagement at Gogra-Hot Springs (also known as Patrolling Point 15) at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh.

In a brief joint statement, the two sides confirmed that the process had started and that it was an outcome of the 16th round of the India China Corps Commander Level Meeting that took place in July.

Notably, the disengagement process is reminiscent of the one that happened in 2017, when ahead of the China BRICS summit, disengagement on Doklam was agreed upon.

Before the Covid pandemic, both leaders met several times. In 2019, both met four times. First on the sidelines of the SCO Leaders’ Summit in Bishkek, which happened following the re-election of Prime Minister Modi, second was on the sidelines of the 14th G-20 Summit in Osaka, and the third time they met was at the 11th BRICS Summit in Brasilia on November 13, 2019. The famous second informal summit in Tamil Nadu's Mamallapuram was their fourth meet.

Before that, Prime Minister Modi visited China in September 2016 to participate in the G20 Summit in Hangzhou; In September 2017, he participated in the BRICS Summit in Xiamen; and in June 2018, he attended the SCO Summit in Qingdao.

Similarly, President Xi has also been a regular visitor to India. In October 2016, he participated in the BRICS Summit in Goa and in 2014, he went to PM Modi's home state of Gujarat.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed that he will be meeting China's Xi in Uzbekistan.

What is interesting to be noted is that will be the first foreign visit of the Chinese president since the COVID-19 outbreak. His last visit abroad was to Myanmar in January 2020.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan's cultural capital Samarkand will be the first time both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will be under the same roof since the Galwan Valley incident.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan's cultural capital Samarkand will be the first time both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will be under the same roof since the Galwan Valley incident. But suspense remains if they will hold a bilateral meeting. As of now, there is no confirmation over the face-to-face meeting between the Indian and the Chinese leadership at the Samarkand SCO summit. Any meeting will be significant given how ties have been faring, but a breakthrough looks less likely, especially in the wake of the 2020 Galwan Valley skirmish. In 2020, China's aggressive action at the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers. Beijing, after much delay, accepted that it lost four of its soldiers—a claim that remains doubtful given Beijing's track record on transparency. While disengagement has taken place like the Hot Springs-Gogra area, China continues to violate the 1993 and 1996 pact as it amasses troops at the border areas. From Delhi, the message has been clear as External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has several times said that the ties have been going through a "difficult phase". Last month, Jaishankar said, "Much of the future of Asia depends on how relations between India and China develop in the foreseeable future. For ties to return to a positive trajectory and remain sustainable, they must be based on the three mutuals: mutual sensitivity, mutual respect, and mutual interest.” He added, "Their current status is, of course, well known to all of you. I can only reiterate that the state of the border will determine the state of the relationship". Since the Galwan incident, India has banned several Chinese apps in the country, increased scrutiny on Chinese investment and increased infrastructure development on the border. But a week before the Samarkand SCO summit, India and China announced disengagement at Gogra-Hot Springs (also known as Patrolling Point 15) at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh. In a brief joint statement, the two sides confirmed that the process had started and that it was an outcome of the 16th round of the India China Corps Commander Level Meeting that took place in July. Notably, the disengagement process is reminiscent of the one that happened in 2017, when ahead of the China BRICS summit, disengagement on Doklam was agreed upon. Before the Covid pandemic, both leaders met several times. In 2019, both met four times. First on the sidelines of the SCO Leaders’ Summit in Bishkek, which happened following the re-election of Prime Minister Modi, second was on the sidelines of the 14th G-20 Summit in Osaka, and the third time they met was at the 11th BRICS Summit in Brasilia on November 13, 2019. The famous second informal summit in Tamil Nadu's Mamallapuram was their fourth meet. Before that, Prime Minister Modi visited China in September 2016 to participate in the G20 Summit in Hangzhou; In September 2017, he participated in the BRICS Summit in Xiamen; and in June 2018, he attended the SCO Summit in Qingdao. Similarly, President Xi has also been a regular visitor to India. In October 2016, he participated in the BRICS Summit in Goa and in 2014, he went to PM Modi's home state of Gujarat. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed that he will be meeting China's Xi in Uzbekistan. What is interesting to be noted is that will be the first foreign visit of the Chinese president since the COVID-19 outbreak. His last visit abroad was to Myanmar in January 2020.

Suspense remains on bilateral meeting between India's Modi and China's Xi on sidelines of SCO

With Samarkand all set to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit later this week, Indian Ambassador to Uzbekistan Manish Prabhat has said that "India accords a lot of importance to the SCO". The fact that PM himself is travelling to take part in the summit is testimony to the fact, he said.

Samarkand will host the summit on 15&nbsp;and&nbsp;16&nbsp;September. Speaking exclusively to WION's diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal in Tashkent, Ambassador Prabhat also talked about India-Uzbekistan ties, with connectivity, trade and&nbsp;people-to-people relationships being the key focus. He said, "Uzbekistan is very supportive of the Chabahar initiative and we know that it was Uzbekistan’s initiative when we discussed Chabahar Port with them that they brought together India, Iran, and Uzbekistan to sit together that have a trilateral dialogue about Chabahar." Full interview as transcribed by Veer Vikram Mukherjee is below.&nbsp;

WION: What will be the key focus of the PM's visit to Uzbekistan in terms of his participation in the SCO Summit and how important is this Summit for India?

Manish Prabhat: As you know India is among the newest members of the SCO but in this short time India has contributed very constructively to the agenda of the SCO, we are talking of many issues - Economic Cooperation, Diplomacy related to Covid, how to meet common challenges, Terrorism etc but given all this Of course the SCO summit which is happening in Samarkand what would be the agenda and what leaders would talk about themselves, of course, it is their prerogative and will have to wait for the summit outcome that what is going to happen. But of course, India accords a lot of importance to the SCO and as you know that India is also the incoming chair of SCO so obviously the summit is very important for us and PM coming himself for the summit on 15th and 16th September is the testimony of the fact that India is attaching importance to the SCO.&nbsp;

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WION: Importance to SCO but also important to Uzbekistan because this is not the first time that PM is visiting Uzbekistan so how important is this bilateral relationship between the two countries?

Manish Prabhat:&nbsp;India and Uzbekistan have their historical relations going back to many centuries even more than 2000 years ago but of course, in modern times our relationship has really flourished, you know Uzbekistan and India both are strategic partners and you know within this framework of strategic partnership we would like to expand and strengthen our relationship in various fields - political consultations, economy, trade and investment, defence, security similarly culture, education, all are very important. And if you remember that PM Shri Narendra Modi visited all FIVE&nbsp;Central Asian countries in the year 2015, that itself was a sign that India was giving a big push to this relationship and giving a high priority to its relationship with Central Asia. Since then, this relationship has really flourished you know. And the fact that we had foreign ministerial dialogue instituted in Samarkand, the first one happened in January 2019, India-Central Asia Dialogue and then the India-Central Asia Summit which happened this year in January, shows that how close India and Central Asian countries are taking steps together.&nbsp;&nbsp;

WION:&nbsp; Once to keep focus area between the relationships has been connectivity, Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country and very keen to use connectivity projects including Chabahar so how there has been a focus on connectivity between the two countries?

Manish Prabhat:&nbsp;For the landlocked Central Asia of course the connectivity is a big challenge and of course, since there is no direct connectivity, or surface connectivity, India and Central Asia which is very active these days, India has come up with a solution in the form of the Chabahar Port and as you know a part of the Chabahar Port is operated by an Indian Company and India has really pitched to all our Central Asian partners that Chabahar Port can be the key and the focus which would really establish the connectivity between India and Central Asia. And of course, this makes sense because the root is if all infrastructure is developed it really would cut down on time and other kinds of cost, it would be economical and Central Asia, the countries would also like connectivity to the outside world. So, all the countries have agreed that we should work together for connectivity and in fact, Uzbekistan is very supportive of the Chabahar initiative and we know that it was Uzbekistan’s initiative when we discussed Chabahar Port with them that they brought together India, Iran, Uzbekistan to sit together that have a trilateral dialogue about Chabahar. So, this initiative would go further, and this dialogue will expand. Similarly, India is a member of the International North-South Transport Corridor and we have also requested Uzbekistan to become a member of the INSTC Uzbeks are very positive about it. So, we hope that in the coming future connectivity initiative would develop to the mutual benefit of India and the central Asian countries.&nbsp;

WION: How can the trade relationships be taken forward and the benefits of trade will lead to a people-to-people relationship between the two countries, India and Uzbekistan? If you can talk about that?

Manish Prabhat:&nbsp;The people-to-people relationship has always been strong between India and Central Asia and India and Uzbekistan. That goodwill is there based on which more trade can happen. As you know that Indian Pharmaceutical exports to CIS send in this part of the world have traditionally been strong, of course, there is scope for much more. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the growth of pharma exports from India also happened. But we need to identify new commodities of trade between India and Central Asia. Similarly, Uzbekistan is a big exporter of fruits and vegetables, and you know in the agriculture sector also India and Uzbekistan have identified agricultural products which can be exported and imported. Uzbekistan is also a great country rich in mineral resources. So, we identify those minerals which can come to India. Possibilities are endless. We need to develop trade connectivity, the surface connectivity, we can discuss how to put in place mechanisms which would promote trade. And we already have mechanisms like the inter-governmental commission meetings and other kinds of joint working groups. So, efforts are happening in this direction, and I think that we have set a target for our two countries to reach a trade turnover of 1 billion dollars of bilateral trade every year. We are not yet there but work is going in this direction. And the trading connectivity and the strength of investments etc would draw people you know, we become more connected to each other.&nbsp;

WION: But if you can shed some light on the people-to-people relationship India sees Central Asia and especially Uzbekistan as part of its extended neighbourhood and we know that many monuments have a resemblance between the two countries.

Manish Prabhat:&nbsp;Of course,&nbsp;there is a rich past about that, so much has taken place in history. In contemporary relationships look what is India’s image in Central Asia and Uzbekistan. India is a big economy, it has a large population, it has managed things with its youth very well, we have created a big IT ecosystem, and start-ups are doing very well. India is a role model to learn how to digitise various services in the country, and how to learn IT and communication services. And so, Uzbekistan and the Central Asian countries would like to really learn from India more. You know today Uzbekistan has invited Indian Universities to come and open campuses in Uzbekistan. Already 3 Indian Universities are working in Uzbekistan and students are attending their classes. More university-to-university cooperation is going to happen. The Indian cultural centre, which is in Uzbekistan and the Indian Embassy, has opened 13 Indian study centres in the universities of Uzbekistan, so there are 13 universities already connected through Indian study centres. Similarly in the field of cultural outreach, our Lal Bahadur Shastri Centre for Indian Culture is really doing good work. Yoga is really becoming very popular in Uzbekistan. 2 trained expert Indian teachers of Yoga have been sent from the Indian council for cultural relations to work in Uzbekistan. This year the international day of yoga was celebrated on a very large scale in many cities of Uzbekistan. So, these you know canvas of cultural cooperation is really expanding. As I said the people of Uzbekistan really look forward to it, they really love Indian films. Tashkent International Film festival has been revived. Indian stars are coming, and Indian movies are being shot here. So, a lot of things are happening. Also, India is also a great destination for medical tourism, and we see a lot of Uzbek medical patients. They come to Indian doctors, and hospitals for the quality of care we can provide to them and for the affordability of that. So, you know a lot of potential exists in these directions, in services and both India and Uzbekistan are working to realize that potential.&nbsp;

WION If I am correct India is also helping in IT capacity building of Uzbekistan, we have some projects, India has strongly supported. I remember the visits of ministers inaugurating various IT parks here.

Manish Prabhat:&nbsp;You would be happy to know that the first IT Park in Uzbekistan was first inaugurated in 2019 with the help of technical guidance of an Indian expert who was sent from the software technology parks in India. Since then that resident expert has gone on and you know he has developed more IT Parks in Uzbekistan. We have very close cooperation in the field of IT, we are training Uzbek candidates in the field of IT. Similarly, we also operate an entrepreneurship development centre in Uzbekistan which is opened by MEA, and we have a resident director and Entrepreneurship Development Institute of Ahmedabad is providing that technical consultancy to develop entrepreneurship. So, you can see that our outreach is not only IT per se but also entrepreneurship how do you mix the two and how do you engage with the youth of Uzbekistan, you know how India has done a lot in the field of start-ups in the framework of SCO and bilaterally also. So, we have come up with comprehensive planning that how to engage with the youth of Uzbekistan, train them in new kinds of skills and grow the relationship between India and Uzbekistan.

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With Samarkand all set to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit later this week, Indian Ambassador to Uzbekistan Manish Prabhat has said that "India accords a lot of importance to the SCO".

With Samarkand all set to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit later this week, Indian Ambassador to Uzbekistan Manish Prabhat has said that "India accords a lot of importance to the SCO". The fact that PM himself is travelling to take part in the summit is testimony to the fact, he said. Samarkand will host the summit on 15 and 16 September. Speaking exclusively to WION's diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal in Tashkent, Ambassador Prabhat also talked about India-Uzbekistan ties, with connectivity, trade and people-to-people relationships being the key focus. He said, "Uzbekistan is very supportive of the Chabahar initiative and we know that it was Uzbekistan’s initiative when we discussed Chabahar Port with them that they brought together India, Iran, and Uzbekistan to sit together that have a trilateral dialogue about Chabahar." Full interview as transcribed by Veer Vikram Mukherjee is below. WION: What will be the key focus of the PM's visit to Uzbekistan in terms of his participation in the SCO Summit and how important is this Summit for India? Manish Prabhat: As you know India is among the newest members of the SCO but in this short time India has contributed very constructively to the agenda of the SCO, we are talking of many issues - Economic Cooperation, Diplomacy related to Covid, how to meet common challenges, Terrorism etc but given all this Of course the SCO summit which is happening in Samarkand what would be the agenda and what leaders would talk about themselves, of course, it is their prerogative and will have to wait for the summit outcome that what is going to happen. But of course, India accords a lot of importance to the SCO and as you know that India is also the incoming chair of SCO so obviously the summit is very important for us and PM coming himself for the summit on 15th and 16th September is the testimony of the fact that India is attaching importance to the SCO. × WION: Importance to SCO but also important to Uzbekistan because this is not the first time that PM is visiting Uzbekistan so how important is this bilateral relationship between the two countries? Manish Prabhat: India and Uzbekistan have their historical relations going back to many centuries even more than 2000 years ago but of course, in modern times our relationship has really flourished, you know Uzbekistan and India both are strategic partners and you know within this framework of strategic partnership we would like to expand and strengthen our relationship in various fields - political consultations, economy, trade and investment, defence, security similarly culture, education, all are very important. And if you remember that PM Shri Narendra Modi visited all FIVE Central Asian countries in the year 2015, that itself was a sign that India was giving a big push to this relationship and giving a high priority to its relationship with Central Asia. Since then, this relationship has really flourished you know. And the fact that we had foreign ministerial dialogue instituted in Samarkand, the first one happened in January 2019, India-Central Asia Dialogue and then the India-Central Asia Summit which happened this year in January, shows that how close India and Central Asian countries are taking steps together. WION: Once to keep focus area between the relationships has been connectivity, Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country and very keen to use connectivity projects including Chabahar so how there has been a focus on connectivity between the two countries? Manish Prabhat: For the landlocked Central Asia of course the connectivity is a big challenge and of course, since there is no direct connectivity, or surface connectivity, India and Central Asia which is very active these days, India has come up with a solution in the form of the Chabahar Port and as you know a part of the Chabahar Port is operated by an Indian Company and India has really pitched to all our Central Asian partners that Chabahar Port can be the key and the focus which would really establish the connectivity between India and Central Asia. And of course, this makes sense because the root is if all infrastructure is developed it really would cut down on time and other kinds of cost, it would be economical and Central Asia, the countries would also like connectivity to the outside world. So, all the countries have agreed that we should work together for connectivity and in fact, Uzbekistan is very supportive of the Chabahar initiative and we know that it was Uzbekistan’s initiative when we discussed Chabahar Port with them that they brought together India, Iran, Uzbekistan to sit together that have a trilateral dialogue about Chabahar. So, this initiative would go further, and this dialogue will expand. Similarly, India is a member of the International North-South Transport Corridor and we have also requested Uzbekistan to become a member of the INSTC Uzbeks are very positive about it. So, we hope that in the coming future connectivity initiative would develop to the mutual benefit of India and the central Asian countries. WION: How can the trade relationships be taken forward and the benefits of trade will lead to a people-to-people relationship between the two countries, India and Uzbekistan? If you can talk about that? Manish Prabhat: The people-to-people relationship has always been strong between India and Central Asia and India and Uzbekistan. That goodwill is there based on which more trade can happen. As you know that Indian Pharmaceutical exports to CIS send in this part of the world have traditionally been strong, of course, there is scope for much more. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the growth of pharma exports from India also happened. But we need to identify new commodities of trade between India and Central Asia. Similarly, Uzbekistan is a big exporter of fruits and vegetables, and you know in the agriculture sector also India and Uzbekistan have identified agricultural products which can be exported and imported. Uzbekistan is also a great country rich in mineral resources. So, we identify those minerals which can come to India. Possibilities are endless. We need to develop trade connectivity, the surface connectivity, we can discuss how to put in place mechanisms which would promote trade. And we already have mechanisms like the inter-governmental commission meetings and other kinds of joint working groups. So, efforts are happening in this direction, and I think that we have set a target for our two countries to reach a trade turnover of 1 billion dollars of bilateral trade every year. We are not yet there but work is going in this direction. And the trading connectivity and the strength of investments etc would draw people you know, we become more connected to each other. WION: But if you can shed some light on the people-to-people relationship India sees Central Asia and especially Uzbekistan as part of its extended neighbourhood and we know that many monuments have a resemblance between the two countries. Manish Prabhat: Of course, there is a rich past about that, so much has taken place in history. In contemporary relationships look what is India’s image in Central Asia and Uzbekistan. India is a big economy, it has a large population, it has managed things with its youth very well, we have created a big IT ecosystem, and start-ups are doing very well. India is a role model to learn how to digitise various services in the country, and how to learn IT and communication services. And so, Uzbekistan and the Central Asian countries would like to really learn from India more. You know today Uzbekistan has invited Indian Universities to come and open campuses in Uzbekistan. Already 3 Indian Universities are working in Uzbekistan and students are attending their classes. More university-to-university cooperation is going to happen. The Indian cultural centre, which is in Uzbekistan and the Indian Embassy, has opened 13 Indian study centres in the universities of Uzbekistan, so there are 13 universities already connected through Indian study centres. Similarly in the field of cultural outreach, our Lal Bahadur Shastri Centre for Indian Culture is really doing good work. Yoga is really becoming very popular in Uzbekistan. 2 trained expert Indian teachers of Yoga have been sent from the Indian council for cultural relations to work in Uzbekistan. This year the international day of yoga was celebrated on a very large scale in many cities of Uzbekistan. So, these you know canvas of cultural cooperation is really expanding. As I said the people of Uzbekistan really look forward to it, they really love Indian films. Tashkent International Film festival has been revived. Indian stars are coming, and Indian movies are being shot here. So, a lot of things are happening. Also, India is also a great destination for medical tourism, and we see a lot of Uzbek medical patients. They come to Indian doctors, and hospitals for the quality of care we can provide to them and for the affordability of that. So, you know a lot of potential exists in these directions, in services and both India and Uzbekistan are working to realize that potential. WION If I am correct India is also helping in IT capacity building of Uzbekistan, we have some projects, India has strongly supported. I remember the visits of ministers inaugurating various IT parks here. Manish Prabhat: You would be happy to know that the first IT Park in Uzbekistan was first inaugurated in 2019 with the help of technical guidance of an Indian expert who was sent from the software technology parks in India. Since then that resident expert has gone on and you know he has developed more IT Parks in Uzbekistan. We have very close cooperation in the field of IT, we are training Uzbek candidates in the field of IT. Similarly, we also operate an entrepreneurship development centre in Uzbekistan which is opened by MEA, and we have a resident director and Entrepreneurship Development Institute of Ahmedabad is providing that technical consultancy to develop entrepreneurship. So, you can see that our outreach is not only IT per se but also entrepreneurship how do you mix the two and how do you engage with the youth of Uzbekistan, you know how India has done a lot in the field of start-ups in the framework of SCO and bilaterally also. So, we have come up with comprehensive planning that how to engage with the youth of Uzbekistan, train them in new kinds of skills and grow the relationship between India and Uzbekistan. Watch WION's live TV here: ×

India attaches importance to SCO, says Indian envoy to Uzbekistan Manish Prabhat

Uzbekistan's cultural capital Samarkand is all set to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or SCO Summit due to be held on September 15 and 16. The city has been spruced up to host 15 world leaders including PM Modi, Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Uzbekistan is hosting the SCO Summit for the fouth time, but it is being hosted in the city of Samarkand for the first time. Previously, Uzbekistan hosted the summit in 2004, 2010 and 2016.

The city has got a new airport which is been seen as a synthesis of the past and present and is shaped like an “open book” symbolizing the main work of Mirzo Ulugbek “Zizhijadidi Kuragoniy” or the "New Astronomical Table of Kuragoni”. The building is 175 metres wide and 25 metres high. Constellations are depicted on its roof.

The airport can handle 800 people per hour and upto 120 flights per week. Equipped with modern technologies, luggage check-in it firmly puts ancient city of Samarkand on the world tourist map.

Ulugbek, was the grandson of Timur and oldest son of Shah Rukh. The Timurid Sultan was well known as an astronomer and mathematician and was notable for trigonometry. His observatory in Samarkand, built in 1449, can accurately measure the Sun from the horizon, the altitude of a star and other planets with phenomenal accuracy.

To make the city more tourist friendly, Silk Road Samarkand Tourist Center has been built to welcome SCO guests as it plans to host many events during the summit. The main construction occupies 135 hectares. A Congress Hall has been created where meetings of the SCO leaders will be held and is located on the two banks of the famous Samarkand Rowing Canal. Its area is 2800 square metres, and the area of the main hall, where the meetings of the SCO leaders will be held, is 65x65 m, and its height is 14 metres.&nbsp;

For incoming guests, 8 international-level hotels, with a total of about 1,200 rooms have opened their doors. Two of them correspond to the 5-star category, and one of them – “Samarkand Regency Amir Temur” - is the first and so far the only hotel in Central Asia, which is included in the Leading Hotels of the World association. &nbsp;

Another local attraction, Samarkand Rowing Canal has been built. The canal is 2,180 metres long and over 150 metres wide. Remember Uzbekistan will host the Asian Youth Olympic Games in 2025, and the rowing tournaments will be held in Samarkand.&nbsp;

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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Uzbekistan's cultural capital Samarkand is all set to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or SCO Summit due to be held on September 15 and 16. The city has been spruced up to host 15 world leaders including PM Modi, Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Uzbekistan's cultural capital Samarkand is all set to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or SCO Summit due to be held on September 15 and 16. The city has been spruced up to host 15 world leaders including PM Modi, Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Uzbekistan is hosting the SCO Summit for the fouth time, but it is being hosted in the city of Samarkand for the first time. Previously, Uzbekistan hosted the summit in 2004, 2010 and 2016. The city has got a new airport which is been seen as a synthesis of the past and present and is shaped like an “open book” symbolizing the main work of Mirzo Ulugbek “Zizhijadidi Kuragoniy” or the "New Astronomical Table of Kuragoni”. The building is 175 metres wide and 25 metres high. Constellations are depicted on its roof. The airport can handle 800 people per hour and upto 120 flights per week. Equipped with modern technologies, luggage check-in it firmly puts ancient city of Samarkand on the world tourist map. Ulugbek, was the grandson of Timur and oldest son of Shah Rukh. The Timurid Sultan was well known as an astronomer and mathematician and was notable for trigonometry. His observatory in Samarkand, built in 1449, can accurately measure the Sun from the horizon, the altitude of a star and other planets with phenomenal accuracy. To make the city more tourist friendly, Silk Road Samarkand Tourist Center has been built to welcome SCO guests as it plans to host many events during the summit. The main construction occupies 135 hectares. A Congress Hall has been created where meetings of the SCO leaders will be held and is located on the two banks of the famous Samarkand Rowing Canal. Its area is 2800 square metres, and the area of the main hall, where the meetings of the SCO leaders will be held, is 65x65 m, and its height is 14 metres. For incoming guests, 8 international-level hotels, with a total of about 1,200 rooms have opened their doors. Two of them correspond to the 5-star category, and one of them – “Samarkand Regency Amir Temur” - is the first and so far the only hotel in Central Asia, which is included in the Leading Hotels of the World association. Another local attraction, Samarkand Rowing Canal has been built. The canal is 2,180 metres long and over 150 metres wide. Remember Uzbekistan will host the Asian Youth Olympic Games in 2025, and the rowing tournaments will be held in Samarkand. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Samarkand gets ready to host SCO leaders

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit is all set to take in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on September 15th and 16th. The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of China Xi Jinping and Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif will all be under the same roof.

SCO Summit 2022: Leaders of India , China, Pakistan, Russia under same roof

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