PM Modi Honours Lal Bahadur Shastri In Tashkent

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid floral tribute to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri at the Shastri Memorial in Tashkent on Sunday.

Shastri, India's second Prime Minister, died suddenly in Tashkent on January 11, 1966, just hours after signing the historic Tashkent Declaration to end the 1965 India-Pakistan war.

Modi's visit to the Shastri Memorial was a gesture of respect to the former Prime Minister's legacy. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that Shastri's 'timeless call of 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' continues to inspire generations, and his life embodied simplicity, courage and unwavering devotion to the nation.

After paying tribute, Modi jointly planted a tree with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in the Presidential Palace garden. The tree-planting ceremony was part of India's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative and Uzbekistan's 'Yashil Makon' green efforts.

The gesture reflects the shared commitment of India and Uzbekistan towards nurturing a greener and more sustainable future. The tree-planting ceremony followed delegation-level talks between Modi and Mirziyoyev at the Kuksaroy Presidential Palace.

The leaders held wide-ranging discussions on strengthening bilateral ties in trade and investment, innovation and start-ups, digital public infrastructure and UPI, defence and security, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, agriculture, education, tourism, space and people-to-people exchanges.

During the talks, India and Uzbekistan decided to elevate their Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They also set a bilateral trade target of $5 billion by 2030 and called for a Business Summit to deepen economic and investment ties.

Mirziyoyev also conferred the Oliy Darajali Do'stlik Order, Uzbekistan's highest honour for foreign leaders, on Modi for his contribution to strengthening friendship between the two countries.

Earlier in the day, Modi attended a yoga session hosted by the Yoga Federation of Uzbekistan. The Prime Minister arrived in Tashkent on Saturday for a two-day state visit to Uzbekistan.

The visit is expected to strengthen bilateral ties between India and Uzbekistan. The two countries have a long history of cultural and economic exchange, and the visit is seen as an opportunity to deepen their relationship.

In recent years, India and Uzbekistan have been working to strengthen their economic ties. The two countries have signed several agreements on trade and investment, and have been exploring opportunities for cooperation in areas such as agriculture, healthcare, and education.

The visit is also seen as an opportunity for India to strengthen its ties with Central Asia. Uzbekistan is a key player in the region, and India has been seeking to deepen its engagement with the country.

Overall, the visit is expected to have a positive impact on India-Uzbekistan relations. The two countries have a strong foundation for cooperation, and the visit is seen as an opportunity to take their relationship to the next level.

The significance of the visit lies in its potential to strengthen bilateral ties between India and Uzbekistan. The two countries have a lot to offer each other, and the visit is seen as an opportunity to explore new areas of cooperation.

In conclusion, PM Modi's visit to Uzbekistan is a significant development in India-Uzbekistan relations. The visit is expected to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries and explore new areas of cooperation.