Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 25 October 2022, in Busan (Republic of Korea), a delegation of the Republic of Uzbekistan headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov took part in the 15th Central Asia-Republic of Korea Cooperation Forum ".

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Korea, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan discussed priority areas of cooperation to ensure sustainable development of socio-economic development and prosperity of the Central Asian region through the exchange and implementation of advanced South Korean experience.

The participants noted the special significance of the current Forum in the year of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the states of Central Asia and the Republic of Korea, as well as the 15th anniversary of the launch of this format of cooperation.

The forum was established in 2007 on the initiative of the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to expand trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation with the countries of Central Asia.

The Republic of Korea contributes to the development of the region through the expansion of technological and personnel exchanges, the transfer of practical experience in socio-economic development in the fields of industry, transport and logistics, agriculture, e-government, information technology, education, reforestation, standardization, human resource development, etc. .

In his speech, the head of the Foreign Ministry of Uzbekistan noted the relevance of building up multilateral cooperation in the fields of traditional medicine, digitalization, ecology, tourism and economic security, which are the most important components of the post-pandemic recovery, jointly overcoming the crisis and ensuring sustainable growth of the economies of the countries of the region.

The Forum participants were informed about the conceptual significance of the Samarkand initiative of solidarity for the sake of common security and prosperity, put forward by the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Participants’ attention was also drawn to the negative impact of climate change on the sustainable development of the Central Asian region. The interest in further cooperation with Korea in the Zone of Ecological Innovations and Technologies in the Aral Sea region, the special status of which was determined by a special resolution of the UN General Assembly, was emphasized.

The participants of the event were invited to create a regular mechanism for Dialogue between expert and analytical circles, as well as to hold the first Forum on traditional medicine in Tashkent.

Within the framework of the Forum, separate sessions were held in a hybrid format with the participation of sectoral ministries and departments of Central Asia and the Republic of Korea, as well as a regular meeting of the Central Asia-Korea Business Council and a tourism exhibition.

As a result of the Forum, a Joint Statement was adopted.