Discussions during the Summit are expected to cover topical, regional and international issues

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on Thursday evening to attend the 22nd Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

He is visiting Uzbekistan at the invitation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to attend the Summit being held on Friday.

"At the SCO Summit, I look forward to exchanging views on topical, regional and international issues, the expansion of SCO and on further deepening of multifaceted and mutually beneficial cooperation within the Organization. Under the Uzbek Chairship, a number of decisions for mutual cooperation are likely to be adopted in areas of trade, economy, culture and tourism," he said in his departure statement from New Delhi.

Apart from the Summit activities, Prime Minister Modi is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and some other leaders, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said at a media briefing on Thursday.

While there was no official word from the MEA, Prime Minister Modi's other bilateral meetings during the day are expected to include one with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Indian Prime Minister is also likely to meet Iranian President Ayatollah Sayyid Ebrahim Raisi.

The SCO is a regional multilateral organization that has eight Member States - India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Discussions during the Summit are expected to cover topical, regional and international issues; reform and expansion of SCO; strengthening connectivity; as well as boosting trade and tourism in the region, Foreign Secretary Kwatra said.

A Samarkand Declaration and numerous other documents are expected to be finalized during the Summit. They are currently under consideration of the member-states, he added.

The SCO was set up in June 2001, and India became a full member in 2017. The Council of the SCO Heads of State is the highest decision-making body of the Organization, and meets for an annual summit that is hosted by a Member State by rotation.

Uzbekistan is the current Chair of SCO.

Foreign Secretary Kwatra point out that Prime Minister Modi has been leading the Indian delegation to the SCO Summit every year since India became a full member in 2017. During the last two Summits in 2020 and 2021, Prime Minister participated in virtual format. Samarkand will see full physical format participation by all leaders.

"Since joining SCO as a full member, India has been making positive contributions to the SCO processes and deliberations," Kwatra noted.

He also spoke about the the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) of SCO, describing it was another important mechanism of the organization. "India assumed the Chairship of the Executive Council of RATS in October 2021 for a year, and has been focussing on promoting practical cooperation in combating terrorism," he said.

The Samarkand Summit has two sessions – a Restricted session only for SCO Member States and an Extended session that will also include participation by Observers [Iran, Mongolia, Belarus, Afghanistan (not invited)], Mongolia, Belarus, Afghanistan (not invited)], Special Guests of the Chair (Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan)and regional organizations (CIS, CSTO, CICA, EaEU, UN and ASEAN).

The heads of the two permanent bodies of SCO - Secretary General of the SCO Secretariat and Director of SCO RATS will be present in both sessions.

Noting that PM Modi's participation in this Summit was a reflection of the importance that India attaches to the SCO and its goals, Foreign Secretary Kwatra said, "This is also tied to our approach and engagement with that region as a whole".

India had hosted the first India – Central Asia Summit earlier this year, preceded by a Foreign Minister level meeting. "We remain focused on strengthening our linkages with Central Asia and the extended neighbourhood, and this visit will take this vision forward," the Foreign Secretary said.