During his stay in Seoul, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held talks with the President of the Republic of Korea Lee Jae Myung first in a one-on-one meeting and then with the participation of the official delegations.
The leaders discussed development and deepening of the special strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and Korea.
Warmly welcoming the President of Uzbekistan, the President of Korea described the visit as an important event in the history of relations between Uzbekistan and Korea, which have traditionally been based on friendship and mutual respect.
In turn, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized that over the years, the Republic of Korea has become a reliable friend and one of Uzbekistan’s most important economic partners.
In this context, the leaders noted with satisfaction the growth in trade and investment. More than 700 joint ventures with Korean capital are operating in Uzbekistan. Major companies, including Samsung, LG, Lotte, Young One, BOMI, KIA, and many others, are represented in our market.
Total Korean investment in Uzbekistan’s economy has exceeded $8 billion. Flagship projects include KIA vehicle production in Jizzakh region, the National Children’s Medical Center, the Ustyurt Gas Chemical Complex at the Surgil field, and many others.
Dozens of projects are being implemented in cooperation with the Korea International Cooperation Agency, the Export-Import Bank of Korea, and the EDCF in healthcare, industry, ICT, agriculture and water management, energy, infrastructure, and education.
During the talks, the leaders noted the need to intensify contacts between the two countries at the level of parliaments, ministries and agencies, regional administrations, and business communities.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev outlined five priority areas for expanding economic cooperation with the Republic of Korea.
These include deepening trade ties, increasing investment, and developing cooperation in critical minerals, transport, and infrastructure.
Following the current visit, the investment portfolio is taking on a new scale: promising projects worth approximately $12 billion have been prepared. A partnership program with the Korea Eximbank has been adopted.
The parties paid particular attention to building a strong innovation and technology alliance based on advanced Korean technologies and the resource and industrial potential of New Uzbekistan.
It was proposed to focus the alliance on information technology, cybersecurity, and advanced and digital technologies in medicine, healthcare, and pharmaceutical production.
The parties expressed readiness to develop military-technical cooperation, including by expanding interagency contacts, organizing joint events, and training military specialists.
The leaders highly praised the first-ever Interregional Forum held on the eve of the visit and agreed to hold the next forum in Samarkand.
During the talks, the sides focused on deepening cooperation in education and professional training.
They noted with satisfaction that four branches of South Korean universities operate in Uzbekistan, training highly qualified specialists in pedagogy, IT, engineering, digital technologies, and other priority areas of the modern economy.
In addition, five vocational training centers established with KOICA support operate successfully in Uzbekistan, providing young people with broad opportunities to improve their knowledge and skills and realize their potential.
The sides emphasized the important role of the bilateral Forum of Rectors in exchanging practical experience in personnel training.
They noted that cultural exchanges are particularly important for developing bilateral relations, as they deepen mutual understanding and strengthen ties of friendship between the two peoples.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized that “the large Korean diaspora is an integral part of Uzbekistan’s multinational family and serves as a ‘spiritual bridge’ between our countries and peoples”.
To further develop these special humanitarian ties, the parties agreed to declare 2027 the “Year of Culture and Mutual Exchanges” and hold joint cultural and humanitarian events.
During the talks, the sides also confirmed their close alignment on the regional and international agenda.
UzA