Focus on defence, security as PM Modi meets Uzbek President

Tashkent: India and Uzbekistan on Thursday took note of their growing defence cooperation and called for enhanced security ties as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov here on Thursday.

President Karimov welcomed Modi on his second visit to Uzbekistan within a year and Modi thanked Karimov for support to India's membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Modi also conveyed the government decision to extend e-tourist visa facility to Uzbekistan.

"Both leaders recalled old historical and cultural connections and discussed ways to further expand and strengthen relations. Modi conveyed decision to extend e-Tourist Visa to Uzbekistan and to organize 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," said a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement after the talks. 

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

This was their second bilateral meeting since Modi went to Uzbekistan in July last year during his visit to the five Central Asian countries.

Modi was received at the airport by Uzbek Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Modi is here for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, which is to kick off the process for India's absorption as a member.