A meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin has been scheduled on the sidelines of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday, ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit to Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic.
The two leaders are expected to review the broader India-Russia bilateral relationship during their meeting. The scheduled meeting comes days after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Putin at the Kremlin.
MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George confirmed the planned meeting during a special briefing on the Prime Minister’s upcoming four-day visit while responding to a question on whether PM Modi was likely to meet Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the SCO Summit. “We are working on a few bilateral meetings depending on the availability of time and convenience; the meetings will be held, and as and when the meetings are scheduled, it will be conveyed to you. Putin, in turn, asked Jaishankar to convey his best wishes to Modi and expressed hope of meeting the Prime Minister at the SCO Summit. The Prime Minister is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with SCO leaders on the sidelines of the summit, with the MEA saying details of other meetings would be conveyed as and when they are finalised.
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit Uzbekistan from August 29-30 at the invitation of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, followed by a visit to Bishkek from August 31 to September 1 to participate in the 26th SCO Summit.
A meeting is scheduled between both the leaders of India and Russia on the sidelines of the summit,” George said. “Prime Minister Modi looks forward to meeting you at the SCO Summit, then welcoming you to India for the BRICS Summit, and, in due course, as per your mutual convenience, having the annual summit, so we have a very strong picture of cooperation to present,” Jaishankar told Putin.
