PM Modi meets Armenian PM on sidelines of SCO Summit

Tianjin, Aug 31 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Armenian counterpart Nikol Pashinyan on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in China’s Tianjin on Sunday.

“Very good interaction with Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan. India and Armenia share warm and growing ties, rooted in friendship and mutual cooperation,” PM Modi said on social media platform X.

For the past few years, India and Armenia have strengthened their ties, particularly in the defence sector.

Earlier, PM Modi met Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and noted that the two countries are working closely in many key sectors.

“Productive exchange of views with President Tokayev of Kazakhstan. Our nations are working closely in many key sectors, including energy, security, healthcare and pharma,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

PM Modi also met Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon on the sidelines of the Tianjin summit.

Following their interaction, the Prime Minister, in a post on X, wrote: “Always a pleasure to interact with Emomali Rahmon, the President of Tajikistan. India’s trade and cultural linkages are increasing and this is a wonderful sign.”

The Prime Minister also interacted with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko in Tianjin and said he and the Belarusian leader are very optimistic regarding the beneficial opportunities that lie ahead for India and Belarus.

“Glad to have met President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus. We both are very optimistic about the beneficial opportunities ahead as far as our nations are concerned.”

Earlier, PM Modi met Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on the sidelines of the SCO Summit and stated that India’s developmental cooperation with the Indian Ocean island country is beneficial for the people of both nations.

PM Modi also met his Nepal counterpart KP Sharma Oli on the sidelines of the summit and called the two countries’ ties “deep-rooted and very special”.

Earlier, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, welcomed PM Modi as he arrived to attend the official reception for Heads of State and Heads of Government at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin on Sunday.

The SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation established in Shanghai on June 15, 2001.

The SCO member states are: China, Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Belarus.

The SCO has two observer states — Afghanistan and Mongolia and 14 dialogue partners — Turkey, Kuwait, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, the Maldives, Myanmar, and the United Arab Emirates.

–IANS

sas/khz