PM Modi meets Iran, Armenia & Kyrgyz leaders ahead of SCO Summit, talks trade & peace

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a series of key bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek, engaging with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov. Modi and Pezeshkian reviewed bilateral ties, discussed diversifying trade and exchanged views on the situation in West Asia. India stressed the importance of protecting civilian infrastructure, commercial shipping and seafarers. With Armenia, Modi discussed cooperation in defence and trade. Modi also met Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov, with both sides reviewing the full spectrum of bilateral ties and agreeing to further strengthen their Strategic Partnership with a focus on security, connectivity and economic cooperation.