PM MODI MEETS THE PRESIDENT OF UZBEKISTAN

On Friday Prime minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev with the discussions on sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit here. "Taking forward #IndiaUzbekistan coop'n. PM @narendramodi meets President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan on the sidelines of SCO Summit," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay tweeted with a picture of both leaders.

The full membership of SCO is expected to be granted to India and Pakistan, among which is also China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, at the Summit here on Friday. India has been a observer to the Eurasian bloc since 2005. Modi began his engagements on Friday with a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and thanked him for China's support for India's membership of the SCO.

On his arrival here on Thursday, Modi held a bilateral meeting with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev during the course of which the two leaders discussed ways to expand bilateral ties, including development of the Chabahar port in Iran. After night, leaders at Astana Opera opened the lounge with the Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. This was their first meeting between the two ministers after 17 months. After participating in the SCO Summit on Friday, Modi will not attend World Exposition, Kazakhstan will be hosting this year before arriving in India.