- Monday, March 10, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday (16) said at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, that his government aims to transform India into a manufacturing hub.
Speaking on the second day of the 22nd summit of the eight-member grouping which includes key nations such as Russia and China, Modi said, “The world is overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic. Several disruptions occurred in the global supply chain because of the Covid-19 and Ukraine crisis. We want to transform India into a manufacturing hub.”
Earlier in the day, the Indian leader deliberated with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Chinese president Xi Jinping and other leaders of the SCO on the regional situation and ways to improve trade and connectivity.
Modi came face-to-face with Chinese president Xi for the first time since the beginning of the border standoff between the two Asian neighbours in eastern Ladakh more than two years ago. It was not clear yet whether Modi and Xi would meet on the sidelines of the summit, the Press Trust of India reported.
“President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan welcomed PM@narendramodi to the Congress Centre in Samarkand for the 22nd SCO Summit. India has been working closely with Uzbekistan towards the success of their Chairship,” India’s external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted.
In another tweet, he said, “PM @narendramodi joins the leaders of SCO Member States for discussions on topical, regional and international issues, including regional peace and security, trade and connectivity, culture and tourism.”
The Indian prime minister reached the Uzbek city on Thursday (15) and was warmly greeted at the venue by the president of the host nation, Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
Modi was set to have separate bilateral talks with Putin, Mirziyoyev, and Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi after the summit.
The summit is also being attended by Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif.
[With agency inputs]
