President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held talks with President Lee Jae-myung of South Korea in Seoul, first one-on-one and then between the official delegations from both countries.
The two leaders discussed in detail the further development and deepening of the special strategic partnership between the two countries.
Warmly welcoming his counterpart, the South Korean president called the visit a significant milestone in bilateral relations, which he said have traditionally been built on friendship and mutual respect.
Mirziyoyev, in turn, said South Korea has become a reliable friend and one of the country's most important economic partners in recent years.
Both sides noted with satisfaction the growth in trade turnover and investment. More than 700 joint ventures with Korean capital currently operate in the country.
In cooperation with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the Export-Import Bank of Korea, and the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF), dozens of projects are underway in healthcare, industry, ICT, agriculture and water management, energy, infrastructure, and education.
The talks underscored the need to strengthen contacts between the two countries at the level of parliaments, ministries and agencies, regional administrations, and business communities.
Mirziyoyev outlined five priority areas for expanding economic cooperation with South Korea: deepening trade ties, increasing investment, and developing cooperation in critical minerals, transport, and infrastructure.
Following the visit, the investment portfolio is set to expand significantly, with prospective projects worth roughly $12 billion now in the pipeline. A strategic partnership program with the Export-Import Bank of Korea was also adopted.
The two sides paid particular attention to building a robust innovation and technology alliance that draws on advanced Korean technology and the country's resource and industrial potential. The alliance is expected to focus on information technology, cybersecurity, and high-tech and digital solutions in medicine, healthcare, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Both leaders expressed readiness to expand military-technical cooperation, including deeper interagency contacts, joint exercises, and training for military specialists.
The leaders praised the first-ever Interregional Forum, held ahead of the visit, and agreed to hold the next forum in Samarkand.
Education and workforce training emerged as a particular focus of the talks. Officials noted with satisfaction that four branches of South Korean universities currently operate in the country, training skilled professionals in pedagogy, IT, engineering, digital technology, and other fields critical to a modern economy.
Five vocational training centers established with KOICA support are also operating successfully, offering young people a wide range of opportunities to build skills and put their abilities to use.
The two sides highlighted the role of the Rectors' Forum between universities from both countries in facilitating the exchange of practical experience in workforce training.
They also noted that cultural exchange plays a special role in deepening bilateral ties, fostering mutual understanding and strengthening the bonds of friendship between the two peoples.
Mirziyoyev said the country's large Korean diaspora "is an integral part of Uzbekistan's multinational family and serves as a spiritual bridge between our nations and peoples."
To further these humanitarian ties, the two sides agreed to declare 2027 the "Year of Culture and Mutual Exchange," with joint cultural and humanitarian events planned.
The talks also confirmed the two countries' closely aligned positions on regional and international issues.
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