Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung confirmed their readiness to take the special strategic partnership between the two countries to a new level during talks in Seoul, the Uzbek presidential press service said.
The talks were held in a restricted format and with the participation of members of the official delegations.
The sides discussed further development of Uzbek-Korean relations, highlighting their traditional foundation of friendship and mutual respect. Lee Jae Myung described Mirziyoyev’s visit as an important event in the history of bilateral relations.
Mirziyoyev said South Korea had become a reliable friend and one of Uzbekistan’s key economic partners. More than 700 joint ventures with Korean capital currently operate in Uzbekistan.
Projects are being implemented with the participation of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the Korea Eximbank and the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) in healthcare and medicine, industry, information and communication technologies, agriculture and water management, energy, infrastructure and education.
The leaders stressed the need to intensify contacts between the parliaments, ministries and agencies, regional administrations and business communities of the two countries.
Mirziyoyev outlined five priority areas for further economic cooperation: deepening trade ties, increasing investment, developing cooperation in critical minerals, transport and infrastructure.
Following the visit, an investment portfolio of prospective projects worth about US$12 billion was formed. A strategic partnership programme with Korea Eximbank was also adopted.
Particular attention was given to establishing an innovation and technology alliance based on Korean technologies and Uzbekistan’s resource and industrial potential. Information technology, cybersecurity, and advanced and digital technologies in medicine, healthcare and pharmaceutical production were identified among the priorities.
The sides also expressed readiness to develop military-technical cooperation, including expanding interagency contacts, holding joint events and training military specialists.
The presidents highly rated the first-ever Interregional Forum in bilateral cooperation. The next such forum is planned to be held in Samarkand.
Education and personnel training were also given significant attention during the talks. Four branches of South Korean universities operate in Uzbekistan, training specialists in education, IT, engineering, digital technologies and other priority areas.
In addition, five vocational training centres operate in Uzbekistan with the support of KOICA. They provide young people with opportunities to improve their professional knowledge and skills.
The leaders also highlighted the role of the Rectors’ Forum of universities of the two countries in personnel training, noting that it provides an opportunity to exchange practical experience.
The presidents stressed the importance of cultural exchanges in strengthening mutual understanding and ties between the two peoples. Mirziyoyev highlighted the role of the Korean diaspora in Uzbekistan as a “spiritual bridge” between the two countries.
To further develop humanitarian cooperation, the sides agreed to declare 2027 the “Year of Culture and Mutual Exchanges” and hold joint cultural and humanitarian events as part of the initiative.
During the talks, the presidents also confirmed the closeness of their positions on the regional and international agenda issues discussed.
