PM Modi arrives in Tashkent to kick off SCO summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, arrived in Uzbekistan capital Tashkent on Thursday afternoon.

During his two-day visit, Prime Minister Modi will hold talks with the Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov on the sidelines of the summit.

India will sign a memorandum of obligations, paving the way for it become a full-fledged SCO member of the Organisation.

The membership will provide India an opportunity to have extended cooperation with members of the group including China and Pakistan.

Secretary (West) in External Affairs Ministry, Sujata Mehta, said on Wednesday that India is keen to deepen its security ­related cooperation with the SCO and its Regional Anti ­Terrorism Structure (RATS), which specifically deals with security and defence issues.

Prime Minister Modi's meeting with President Xi Jinping assumes significance in the backdrop of India's attempts to get the membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

The decision to become a member of the SCO was taken last year following Prime Minister's outreach during the BRICS summit.

India's presence in the extended neighbourhood has been raising to higher levels as it has become a major player in a wide range of areas.

Cooperation on the part of the security, energy and anti terrorism is also on the agenda.

Ahead of his visit, the Prime Minister said on twitter last night that he is looking forward to fruitful outcomes at the Summit particularly in the field of economic co-operation.

He said, India attaches great importance to its relations with Central Asia and always seeks to expand economic and people-to-people ties with the region.