New Delhi: The prime minister, Narendra Modi, and Armenian prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, held their first meeting since Pashinyan’s reappointment following Armenia’s general elections in June. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek on Monday and discussed bilateral cooperation, regional developments and the implementation of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Agreement.
Modi congratulated Pashinyan on his electoral victory and assumption of office during the meeting. The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the expansion of bilateral cooperation in several fields in recent times and agreed to further strengthen ties between India and Armenia, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
Defence, economic cooperation, pharmaceuticals, mining, education and culture were among the areas discussed during the talks. The MEA said the relationship between the two countries is marked by “special warmth and friendship”, with both leaders agreeing to work together to further strengthen bilateral relations and advance cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
The discussions also covered regional and global developments, including the situation in West Asia. Modi reiterated the need for continued efforts through dialogue and diplomacy to secure peace and stability in the region.
Following the talks, Modi said India-Armenia cooperation was set to grow further across several sectors. In a post on X, he highlighted defence, IT, space, education and pharmaceuticals and said the two countries were also looking to deepen trade and investment linkages. Modi further said, “We are equally certain to deepen trade and investment linkages in the times to come.”
The meeting with Pashinyan was one of Modi’s bilateral engagements during his visit to Kyrgyzstan for the SCO summit and the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games.
Modi meets Iranian president
Earlier, Modi also met the Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek. It was the first meeting between the two leaders in two years, with discussions focusing on India-Iran relations and the prevailing situation in the region.
“We had a discussion on the prevailing situation in the region. India will continue to support all efforts aimed at ensuring lasting peace,” Modi said in a post on X.
The Iranian foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, and other senior Iranian delegates were also present during the meeting.
Continuing his engagements in Bishkek, Modi also met the Kyrgyz president, Sadyr Zhaparov, and discussed ways to give further momentum to the India-Kyrgyzstan strategic partnership. The discussions covered greater cooperation in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, IT, minerals, agriculture, digital technologies and infrastructure, along with expanding defence and security linkages and strengthening people-to-people ties through sports and tourism.
Modi also conveyed Independence Day greetings to Zhaparov and the people of the Kyrgyz Republic and congratulated him on the country’s successful SCO Chairmanship. Modi is also scheduled to meet the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, later on Monday on the sidelines of the summit, while Chinese president, Xi Jinping, is among the leaders participating in the SCO gathering.