Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Tashkent on Saturday for a two-day visit to Uzbekistan, where he was personally welcomed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The two leaders travelled together from the airport to the presidential palace, marking another instance of the Prime Minister’s much-discussed “car diplomacy”.
Prime Minister Modi received a ceremonial welcome in the presence of Mirziyoyev, with Uzbekistan’s national anthem, “O`zbekiston Respublikasining Davlat Madhiyasi”, being played during the reception.
Taking to X, PM Modi thanked the Uzbek President for the gesture and shared pictures from his arrival. “Landed in Tashkent to a warm welcome by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Grateful to him for the special gesture,” PM Modi tweeted.
Images from the visit showed PM Modi and Mirziyoyev travelling together in a car before reaching the presidential palace, where they later met over dinner. The leaders were also seen embracing during the welcome.
PM Modi’s ‘car diplomacy’
PM Modi has previously shared such informal rides with foreign leaders during overseas visits. In 2025, during his visit to Jordan, Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II drove him to the Jordan Museum in Amman.
A similar gesture was witnessed during PM Modi’s Ethiopia visit, when the Ethiopian Prime Minister personally received him and drove him to his hotel.
The latest interaction with Mirziyoyev comes ahead of PM Modi’s next stop in Kyrgyzstan, where he is scheduled to attend the SCO Summit. He is also expected to hold bilateral discussions with several leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, on the sidelines of the summit.
PM Modi Receives Warm Welcome
PM Modi was given a vibrant cultural reception in Tashkent, with members of the Indian diaspora showcasing performances that brought together Indian and Uzbek artistic traditions.
The programme featured a Bollywood Battle Group performance to “Ude Jab Jab Zulfein Teri”, followed by a unique blend of Kathak and the lively Andijan Polka. Students from the Lal Bahadur Shastri Centre for Indian Culture also presented a Kathak recital. Sharing his appreciation for the programme, PM Modi described the reception as “a delightful celebration of India-Uzbekistan cultural ties!”
The celebrations extended beyond the venue, with prominent landmarks in Tashkent, including the iconic Hilton Hotel, illuminated in the saffron, white and green colours of the Indian tricolour.
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