Samarkand: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings with the presidents of Russia, Iran, and Uzbekistan on the margins of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Samarkand. While Russia has announced a bilateral between PM Modi and Vladimir Putin, indications are against any structured conversation with Pakistan and China. Though a bilateral meeting with an agenda seems unlikely, however, India and China may have a short conversation.
The Summit is crucial as India will preside in the UN Security Council in December and in 2023, India will lead the SCO and also chair the G20 Summit. The Ministry of External Affairs has not confirmed the meeting between PM Modi and Putin. Sources reveal that the sides will discuss issues of strategic stability, situation of Asia Pacific, and cooperation within major multilateral formats.
PM Modi will land in Samarkand today afternoon and is expected to fly to the historic city later today. The heads of SCO states are expected to be in the same room for at least two sessions of the summit followed by a dinner hosted by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.