Leaders Gather in Bishkek for SCO Summit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are both in Bishkek for the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, with a bilateral meeting between the two leaders expected on Monday. This would be their first face-to-face encounter since the outbreak of the war in West Asia earlier this year, as reported by the Free Press Journal.

Modi arrived in the Kyrgyz capital on Sunday, concluding his state visit to Uzbekistan, and was received at the airport by Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, according to Deccan Chronicle and The Tribune. He is visiting at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov.

Pezeshkian landed in Bishkek on Monday, where he was received by Kyrgyzstan's Deputy Cabinet Chief, according to IRNA News Agency, as reported by ANI and The Tribune. The Iranian president is in the country for the SCO summit and the SCO Plus gathering, and is scheduled to deliver a speech at the summit.

Bilateral Meetings and Summit Agenda

Pezeshkian is set to hold bilateral meetings with several participating leaders during his two-day visit, including Modi, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and the presidents of Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan, according to ANI and Deccan Chronicle. He will also attend the official opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games at the invitation of President Zhaparov.

The SCO summit, chaired by Kyrgyzstan as the rotating presidency, will bring together leaders of member states to deliberate on regional and international issues and ways to strengthen cooperation within the grouping. According to the Free Press Journal, 21 presidents and prime ministers are expected in Bishkek, prompting unprecedented security arrangements. Modi will participate in the Council of Heads of State meeting, the SCO Plus format meeting, and the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games. He is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with SCO leaders, including with President Zhaparov and Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to the Free Press Journal.

Pezeshkian's Remarks Before Departure

Before leaving Tehran, Pezeshkian said that Iran does not seek war, but will respond with strength and determination to any aggression. He also stated that instability in the region is detrimental to all countries and emphasized the need for convergence to advance economic and security goals.

"This meeting is very important and most of the leaders of the region will be present at it. In a situation where some international institutions are seeking to create a unified space in the world, this meeting is considered a symbol of the existence of diverse and independent voices in the global arena," he said.

Emphasizing the ancient and civilised history of the region, he added: "We live in a region whose destiny, history, and civilisation go back thousands of years, and we have always been in communication, coexistence, and growth with each other. Therefore, peace, security, economy, and civilisation have arisen from this land, and it is natural that we should strive to expand this trend in today's world."

Context

The Kyrgyz Republic holds the SCO's rotating presidency this year, coinciding with the organisation's 25th anniversary. India became a full-fledged member of the SCO in 2017. The summit of SCO heads of state and observer countries is scheduled for September 1, according to the Free Press Journal.