PM Modi joins yoga session in Tashkent during Uzbekistan visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday participated in a yoga session organised by the Yoga Federation of Uzbekistan in Tashkent, on the second day of his two-day state visit to Uzbekistan.
The session was held at a venue in the Uzbek capital. The Prime Minister walked around the hall, interacted with participants as they performed yoga, and later posed for a group photograph with them. The event underscored the cultural connection between India and Uzbekistan, with yoga being a shared tradition that has gained popularity across Central Asia.
The yoga programme came a day after Modi arrived in Tashkent and received a warm welcome from President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The two leaders travelled together from the airport to the presidential palace and held a dinner meeting. "Landed in Tashkent to a warm welcome by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Grateful to him for the special gesture. This is my fourth visit to Uzbekistan, reflecting the depth and growing momentum of our bilateral relations," Modi said on social media.
On Sunday, Modi is scheduled to hold delegation-level talks with President Mirziyoyev. The discussions are expected to focus on trade and investment, defence, digital connectivity, energy, education, and people-to-people ties. The leaders are also expected to discuss ways to enhance connectivity, including air and land links, and to boost cultural exchanges. Both sides have been working to expand economic engagement, and the talks are expected to provide new momentum to cooperation.
This is Modi's fourth visit to Uzbekistan since becoming Prime Minister, following trips in 2015 and 2016, and a visit in 2022 for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Samarkand. The regular high-level exchanges reflect the growing importance of the relationship. India and Uzbekistan have historical cultural and economic ties, and the current visit aims to further strengthen them. Under India's 'Connect Central Asia' policy, Uzbekistan is a key partner, with trade, energy, and connectivity being important pillars of cooperation. Uzbekistan is also an important market for Indian pharmaceuticals and a growing destination for Indian educational institutions.
India and Uzbekistan have also cooperated in defence and security. The two countries have conducted joint military exercises, including the bilateral exercise "Dustlik," and share a common interest in ensuring regional stability and combating terrorism. The upcoming talks are expected to enhance this cooperation further.
After concluding his engagements in Tashkent, Modi will travel to Bishkek to attend the 26th SCO Summit at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov. The summit will bring together leaders of member states to discuss regional security, economic cooperation, and other pressing issues. The summit will also address issues such as terrorism, extremism, and regional stability, which are of mutual concern to member states. India's participation in the SCO is part of its broader engagement with the region, and the summit provides a platform for multilateral dialogue on key challenges.
The yoga session was a highlight of the visit, showcasing yoga as an instrument of cultural diplomacy. India has promoted yoga globally, with June 21 observed as International Yoga Day, and the practice has found resonance in Uzbekistan. The participation of the Prime Minister in the Tashkent event was a gesture of goodwill towards the yoga community in Uzbekistan and an acknowledgement of the shared cultural heritage between the two nations.
