According to the Ambassador, the Republic of Korea highly values President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s policy to strengthen good-neighborly relations in Central Asia, increase trust among states, and expand the space for cooperation.

According to the Ambassador, positive changes in the region in recent years have created a solid foundation for elevating the dialogue between the Republic of Korea and the Central Asian countries to a new level. In particular, Korea highly values President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s efforts to develop regional cooperation. The atmosphere of mutual trust creates conditions for the First Central Asia – Republic of Korea Summit. The Ambassador expressed confidence that the summit will conclude with concrete agreements and important practical results.

Won Do Yeon also noted Uzbekistan’s key role in the Republic of Korea’s foreign policy. According to him, the Republic of Korea has established a special strategic partnership with Uzbekistan, underscoring the great importance that Seoul places on developing cooperation with Tashkent.

The Ambassador highlighted that the core of relations between Korea and Uzbekistan lies in mutual trust and genuine respect. Currently, approximately 100,000 Uzbekistan citizens are working or studying in Korea, with a recent notable rise in Korean visitors to Uzbekistan. Our relationship also stands out because our economies complement each other: Korea boasts advanced technology, while Uzbekistan is rich in natural resources and has a youthful, skilled workforce.

The Ambassador highlighted the friendly relations developing between the two countries’ leaders. According to him, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of the Republic of Korea Lee Jae Myung share many views on public administration and social development. In particular, both leaders share the view that human interests should be at the center of their policies.

Won Do Yeon stressed that the principle that “the state must serve the people”, put forward by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and the view that the President of the Republic of Korea should serve the people reflect the similarity of the two leaders’ political approaches. According to the Ambassador, these shared values and similar perspectives help deliver concrete results in cooperation between Uzbekistan and Korea.

Regarding economic cooperation, the Ambassador noted that the number of large projects implemented with the participation of Korean companies is increasing in Uzbekistan. In particular, the KIA automobile plant in Jizzakh is expanding its production capacity. Incheon International Airport is participating in the New Tashkent International Airport construction project as one of the key partners. In addition, the Jaloliddin Manguberdi high-speed trains produced in Korea are another practical result of technological cooperation between the two countries.

According to the Ambassador, high technologies will become one of the most promising areas for further cooperation. In particular, Robotis is investing about $100 million in Uzbekistan and building a robot manufacturing plant. This investment is expected to expand joint projects in high-tech areas such as artificial intelligence, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and other promising industries.

Referring to the upcoming high-level talks in Seoul, Won Do Yeon noted that significant results are expected from the meeting between the two leaders.

The Ambassador stated that the meeting is expected to yield significant results across several fields. He added that several agreements are planned to be signed, covering traditional areas like the processing industry, transport infrastructure, and other sectors. Notable progress is also expected in promising areas such as climate change mitigation, artificial intelligence, high-tech industries, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology.

The diplomat described the First Central Asia – Republic of Korea Summit as a historically significant event. Referencing the Korean proverb “Well begun is half done”, he emphasized that hosting this inaugural summit in this format marks an important milestone for a new phase of collaboration. He also noted that this will be the only multilateral summit in the Republic of Korea this year, highlighting Seoul’s focus on strengthening ties with Central Asia.