PM Modi at SCO to have bilateral with President Putin, no word yet on meet with Xi

New Delhi, Sep 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin will discuss trade and geopolitics on the sidelines of the regional Sumit to be held in Uzbekistan today. There has however been no confirmation on a meeting between PM Modi and Chinese President, Xi Jinping.

The PM arrived at Samarkand for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit on Thursday evening.

He will formally begin his participation in the summit beginning today.

The PM will discuss with President Putin issues of strategic stability, situation in the Asia Pacific region and bi-lateral cooperation with the UN and G20, the Kremlin had announced.

PM Modi will also hold a bi-lateral with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. "At the SCO Summit, I look forward to exchanging views on topical, regional and international issues, the expansion of SCO and further deepening of multifaceted and mutually beneficial cooperation within the Organisation," the PM had said before leaving for the summit.

"I fondly recall his visit to India in 2018. He also graced the Vibrant Gujarat Summit as Guest of Honour in 2019. In addition, I will hold bilateral meetings with some of the other leaders attending the summit," PM Modi said.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said when asked about a meeting between PM Modi and President Xi Jinping, " we will keep you fully appraised when the PM's schedule of the bilateral meetings unfold.

The SCO is having its first in-person summit in two years. The meeting was held in a virtual format owing to COVID-19. The in-person meeting provides an opportunity for all the head heads of state to meet on the sidelines of the event.