(ATTN: UPDATES with extra outcomes, photograph from thirteenth para)
SEOUL, Sept. 14 (Yonhap) — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held summit talks together with his Uzbek counterpart, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, on Monday and expressed hope that the 2 nations will additional deepen their bilateral strategic partnership for mutual prosperity.
The summit was held within the run-up to Seoul’s internet hosting of the inaugural South Korea-Central Asia Summit on Wednesday that may carry collectively the heads of state of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to debate cooperation.
Mirziyoyev was the primary visiting president from the area to carry bilateral talks with Lee forward of the multilateral summit
“Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1992, South Korea and Uzbekistan have constructed stable cooperative ties in numerous fields starting from politics and the financial system to the social and cultural fields,” Lee mentioned, highlighting Uzbekistan as the one Central Asian nation with which Seoul has a particular strategic partnership.
He known as Uzbekistan South Korea’s “valuable good friend and a key associate.”
“I hope that the 2 nations, primarily based on their gathered deep friendship and belief, will develop their particular strategic partnership extra absolutely and march collectively towards mutual prosperity and peace,” the South Korean president mentioned.
The president cited site visitors, infrastructure, healthcare, crucial mineral provide chains, synthetic intelligence (AI) and the protection trade, amongst others, the place the 2 nations may work collectively to develop cooperation in a mutually useful approach and generate future progress.
Lee highlighted the vital roles the 2 nations may play in coping with rising international safety uncertainties, including that bilateral cooperation would additionally enormously assist guarantee peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (R) and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev shake fingers throughout their summit talks in Seoul on Sept. 14, 2026. (Yonhap)
President Mirziyoyev mentioned Uzbekistan has particular affection for South Korea and its individuals, saying the 2 nations’ peoples share comparable sentiments and traditions.
The 2 nations, specifically, share widespread challenges and priorities, the Uzbek president famous, citing public well-being as their widespread precept and saying this binds the nations collectively.
He additionally highlighted the thriving bilateral partnership within the financial system and the worldwide neighborhood, saying Uzbekistan will unwaveringly assist Seoul’s efforts to construct peace and stability on the peninsula.
“As historical past has proved, our bilateral ties don’t falter with political adjustments. We’ve continued to keep up equal, mutually useful and pleasant ties,” he mentioned, expressing hope that his ongoing go to to South Korea will function a possibility to inject new momentum into their particular strategic partnership.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (third from R) and his Uzbek counterpart, Shavkat Mirziyoyev (2nd from L), maintain summit talks in Seoul on Sept. 14, 2026. (Yonhap)
In a subsequent press launch, South Korea presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung mentioned Lee and Mirziyoyev agreed to proceed cooperation in transportation and logistics infrastructure sectors in addition to the protection trade.
They, specifically, agreed to boost cooperation to assist South Korean corporations actively be part of Uzbek infrastructure tasks, primarily based on their previous participation in airport development within the Central Asian nation, Kang mentioned.
Each leaders concurred on the significance of building programs favorable for South Korean companies working in Uzbekistan so as to maintain bilateral commerce and funding, welcoming the upcoming launch of a “Korea desk” on the Uzbek authorities in addition to a South Korea-Uzbekistan committee of enterprise session.
Additionally they dedicated to pursuing cooperation in new areas, together with crucial minerals and the transition to AI and digital expertise, whereas resolving to proceed cooperation in collectively preventing the desertification of the Aral Sea and water shortages gripping Uzbekistan.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (L) and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev stand aspect by aspect throughout a welcoming ceremony at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Sept. 14, 2026. (Yonhap)
As a part of the summit, the 2 nations signed a complete of 13 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) and pacts to boost cooperation between their governments in sectors together with crucial minerals, meals and transportation, the presidential workplace right here mentioned.
One of many MOUs, signed between the Export-Import Financial institution of Korea and the Ministry of Funding, Business and Commerce of the Republic of Uzbekistan, requires securing enterprise alternatives in six strategic industries in Uzbekistan, together with crucial minerals, knowledge facilities, sensible cities and biotechnology.
Different MOUs respectively name for elevated cooperation within the tourism sector, the switch of Korean agricultural expertise and cooperation in laws concerning medical merchandise, in accordance with the presidential workplace.
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