Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Tashkent for a two-day state visit, where he is set to hold talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on strengthening and modernizing bilateral relations.

The Uzbek presidential press service confirmed the start of Modi’s visit, which comes ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in neighboring Kyrgyzstan, according to Vestnik Kavkaza.

Modi is visiting Uzbekistan at the invitation of Mirziyoyev, who personally welcomed the Indian prime minister at Tashkent-Humo International Airport.

The talks are expected to focus on the final stage of negotiations over a broad package of bilateral documents aimed at expanding and deepening cooperation between India and Uzbekistan.

Key negotiations are scheduled for August 30. During his first day in Tashkent, Modi visited Yangi Uzbekistan Park, where he took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Independence Monument.

Following the visit, Mirziyoyev and Modi are expected to travel together to Kyrgyzstan to attend the SCO and SCO+ summits scheduled for August 31-September 1.