Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tashkent on Saturday for a state visit to Uzbekistan, beginning a two-country diplomatic tour aimed at strengthening India's engagement with Central Asia.

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev personally received Modi at the Uzbek capital. The Prime Minister described the welcome as a special gesture and noted that this was his fourth trip to Uzbekistan, calling it a reflection of the expanding relationship between the two countries.

Modi is scheduled to hold talks with Mirziyoyev as part of the visit. Discussions are expected to cover a wide range of areas, including commerce and investment, defence cooperation, digital infrastructure, energy, education and closer links between the people of the two nations.

The Prime Minister said the visit would also provide an opportunity for India and Uzbekistan to work towards their respective national development goals, including India's vision of 'Viksit Bharat' and Uzbekistan's 'Yangi Uzbekistan' programme.

During his time in Tashkent, Modi is scheduled to pay tribute at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial and visit the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies. The engagements are expected to underline the longstanding cultural and people-to-people connections between India and Uzbekistan.

Modi's Uzbekistan visit is the first leg of his Central Asian tour. He will travel next to Bishkek in the Kyrgyz Republic, where he is scheduled to participate in the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit from August 30 to September 1.

The Prime Minister had said ahead of the journey that India would seek to promote its SCO priorities around three broad themes — security, connectivity and opportunity.

He also reiterated India's commitment to working with fellow SCO members to address terrorism, separatism and extremism.

India became a full member of the SCO in 2017 and has since played an active role in the grouping. This year's summit also marks 25 years of the organisation.

While in Bishkek, Modi is expected to meet Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov as well as other leaders attending the summit. He is also scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games.

The Prime Minister is expected to address the SCO gathering and outline India's priorities for regional cooperation. Several bilateral meetings with participating leaders are also likely to take place on the sidelines of the summit.