Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (August 31, 2026) paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial here during his visit to Kyrgyzstan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.

He also met people from various communities in Bishkek.

The Prime Minister arrived in Bishkek on Sunday (August 30, 2026) to attend the 26th SCO Leadership Summit and hold bilateral meetings with leaders of member countries on the sidelines.

He was received at the airport by Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic. A traditional Kyrgyz dance performance was also held to welcome him.

Mr. Modi was greeted with chants of “Vande Mataram” at his hotel, where he also witnessed a yoga performance to the patriotic song “Maa Tujhe Salaam” and a Lord Shiva-themed cultural dance.

Mr. Modi is visiting Kyrgyzstan at the invitation of President Sadyr Zhaparov to participate in the SCO summit being held on August 31-September 1.

The 10-member SCO is marking the 25th anniversary of its founding this year.

The grouping was established in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan joined as full members in 2017, followed by Iran in 2023 and Belarus in 2024.

In his departure statement on Saturday (August 29, 2026), Modi said he looked forward to advancing India’s vision for the region, anchored in “security, connectivity and opportunity”, and working with fellow SCO members for a region free from “terrorism, separatism and extremism”.

Mr. Modi arrived in Bishkek after a two-day visit to Uzbekistan, during which the two countries decided to elevate their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership and set a target of $5 billion in annual trade by 2030.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (August 29, 2026) said he was looking forward to advancing India’s vision for the SCO, anchored in security, connectivity and opportunity, and to working with fellow members for a region free from the scourge of terrorism.

Mr. Modi is embarking on a visit to the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic August 29 to September 1, 2026.

In a departure statement, the Prime Minister said that in recent years, India-Uzbekistan Strategic Partnership has seen significant advancement. “I look forward to my discussions with President Mirziyoyev on further deepening our cooperation in trade and investment, digital connectivity, defence, energy, and on advancing our shared visions of Viksit Bharat and Yangi Uzbekistan.”

“I will also visit the Shastri Memorial and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, a tribute to the close cultural and people-to-people ties that bind our two countries,” he added.

From Tashkent, Mr. Modi will travel to Bishkek to participate in the 26th SCO Summit.

“India has been an active and constructive member of the SCO since 2017. I look forward to advancing India’s vision for the region, anchored in Security, Connectivity and Opportunity, and to working with fellow members for a region free from the scourge of terrorism, separatism and extremism, which continue to threaten peace and stability in our neighbourhood and beyond,” Mr. Modi said.

In Bishkek, he will also hold a meeting with President Zhaparov and other SCO leaders, and attend the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games.

“I am confident that this visit will strengthen India’s strategic partnerships in Central Asia, deepen our civilisational connect with the region, and advance our shared pursuit of peace, stability and prosperity, values that lie at the heart of India’s engagement with the world,” Mr. Modi said.

(With inputs from PTI)