Modi, Kazakh President discuss ways to expand ties

Modi met Nazarbayev soon after arriving in Astana on a two-day visit. He will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit where India and Pakistan will be inducted as full members.

“Mr. Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, met PM @narendramodi and discussed ways to expand bilateral ties,” the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted.

“I look forward to deepening India’s association with the SCO which will help us in economic, connectivity and counter-terrorism cooperation, among other things,” Modi said ahead of his visit.

Mr. Modi will address the SCO Summit on Friday and is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping amid growing differences between the two countries over a host of issues.

There is also speculation about a possible meeting between Narendra Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to ease the growing tension between the two neighbours.