Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to hold a bilateral meeting on Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tashkent.
Mr. Modi, who arrived on Thursday on a two-day visit, earlier held a bilateral meeting with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, in his first diplomatic engagement of the day.
He later posed for a family photograph with the SCO members ahead of attending a plenary of the grouping that is to focus on enhancing connectivity and cooperation.
While speaking at the SCO meeting, Mr. Modi said "My remarks at the SCO Summit focused on the rich potential of what the SCO can achieve & how India will gain from the strengths of the SCO."
The Prime Minister highlighted the need to adopt zero tolerance to terror and the need for a comprehensive approach to fight terrorism at all levels.
Mr. Modi stated "India will be a productive partner in building strong trade, transport, energy, digital & people-to-people links."
“Expanding cooperation in our extended neighbourhood. PM @narendramodi with SCO Summit leaders in a family photograph,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.
“Enhancing connectivity & cooperation, building prosperity. PM @narendramodi attends SCO Plenary in Tashkent,” he posted.
The six-member China-led grouping has kicked off the process for absorbing India and Pakistan as members, following an agreement reached last year at the summit in Ufa, Russia.
