Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial in Bishkek ahead of the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Leadership Summit.
The statue was unveiled by PM Modi during his visit to Kyrgyzstan in 2015.
“In Bishkek this morning, paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue in the city. Gandhi Ji’s thoughts will always have an unparalleled impact on our minds,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
The prime minister also met people from various communities in Bishkek and was presented with a book titled Manas: Kyrgyz Veergatha Kavya.
“Met a group of people who have a close association with India. This includes prominent diaspora members, those passionate about the environment, Yoga enthusiasts, academics, ITEC alumni, researchers and more,” PM Modi said.
He said he was happy to see their continued engagement with India, adding that one of the yoga practitioners had won a medal at the World Yogasana Championship in Ahmedabad.
Among those who met PM Modi was Danil Rykov, president of the Yoga Federation of Kyrgyzstan, who said yoga had changed his life and expressed hope for greater support from India to promote it as a sport in Kyrgyzstan.
Jyldyz Kuvatova, founder of the Art of Living Foundation in Kyrgyzstan and a professor at the American University of Central Asia, said PM Modi’s support for yoga had inspired practitioners to further promote it in the country.
Arina Niiazbekova, a Hatha yoga instructor, also thanked the prime minister for supporting yoga practitioners worldwide. She said she had visited India twice to undertake educational courses.
PM Modi also interacted with members of the Indian community in Bishkek.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, PM Modi arrived in Bishkek on Sunday to participate in the SCO summit, which brings together 10 member states, 15 partner countries and two observer countries to advance dialogue and cooperation on regional and global issues.
The prime minister is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit, including with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
His arrival in Bishkek marks the second leg of his two-country visit after concluding a State visit to Uzbekistan, where he held talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
During the visit, India and Uzbekistan elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and agreed to expand cooperation in areas including trade and investment, infrastructure, digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, energy, space, agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, education and culture.
The two countries also set a target of increasing bilateral trade to USD 5 billion by 2030, with a focus on improving market access, connectivity, and banking and payment systems.
Before leaving Tashkent, PM Modi thanked Mirziyoyev for the hospitality extended to him during the visit.
“Thank you, Uzbekistan! Gratitude to President Mirziyoyev for his warmth, attention to detail, and personal commitment to the India-Uzbekistan friendship,” PM Modi said.
During his State visit, PM Modi also paid floral tributes to former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri at the Shastri Memorial in Tashkent.
(With ANI inputs)
