India, Uzbekistan agree to step up security cooperation

From Manash Pratim Bhuyan

Tashkent: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held a meeting with Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov during which the two leaders called for more security cooperation to further expand and strengthen bilateral relations.

During the meeting, the two leaders recalled old historical and cultural connections and discussed ways to further expand and strengthen relations.

The Prime Minister, who is on a second visit to the country within a year, conveyed India’s decision to extend e-Tourist Visa to Uzbek nationals.

He also said India will organise a ‘Festival of India’ and an ‘Indian Trade Exhibition’ in Uzbekistan to mark 25 years of Uzbekistan’s independence and 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations with India.

Both leaders noted that cooperation was growing in defence and an MoU on Cyber Security had been concluded. They called for more cooperation in security.

The Prime Minister also thanked President Karimov for support to India’s membership of SCO.

The Prime Minister later attended a gala dinner hosted for all the leaders who have gathered here for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.

Besides Modi, the dinner was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain among others.

PTI