(LEAD) S. Korean president says hopes to deepen strategic partnership with Uzbekistan

This will let Google show Yonhap news articles that match or are related to your search

(ATTN: UPDATES with more results, photo from 13th para)

SEOUL, Sept. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held summit talks with his Uzbek counterpart, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, on Monday and expressed hope that the two countries will further deepen their bilateral strategic partnership for mutual prosperity.

The summit was held in the run-up to Seoul's hosting of the inaugural South Korea-Central Asia Summit on Wednesday that will bring together the heads of state of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to discuss cooperation.

Mirziyoyev was the first visiting president from the region to hold bilateral talks with Lee ahead of the multilateral summit

"Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1992, South Korea and Uzbekistan have built solid cooperative ties in various fields ranging from politics and the economy to the social and cultural fields," Lee said, highlighting Uzbekistan as the only Central Asian nation with which Seoul has a special strategic partnership.

He called Uzbekistan South Korea's "precious friend and a key partner."

"I hope that the two countries, based on their accumulated deep friendship and trust, will develop their special strategic partnership more fully and march together toward mutual prosperity and peace," the South Korean president said.

The president cited traffic, infrastructure, healthcare, critical mineral supply chains, artificial intelligence (AI) and the defense industry, among others, where the two countries could work together to expand cooperation in a mutually beneficial way and generate future growth.

Lee highlighted the important roles the two countries could play in dealing with increasing global security uncertainties, adding that bilateral cooperation would also greatly help ensure peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (R) and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev shake hands during their summit talks in Seoul on Sept. 14, 2026. (Yonhap)

President Mirziyoyev said Uzbekistan has special affection for South Korea and its people, saying the two countries' peoples share similar sentiments and traditions.

The two countries, in particular, share common challenges and priorities, the Uzbek president noted, citing public well-being as their common principle and saying this binds the countries together.

He also highlighted the thriving bilateral partnership in the economy and the international community, saying Uzbekistan will unwaveringly support Seoul's efforts to build peace and stability on the peninsula.

"As history has proved, our bilateral ties do not falter with political changes. We have continued to maintain equal, mutually beneficial and friendly ties," he said, expressing hope that his ongoing visit to South Korea will serve as an opportunity to inject new momentum into their special strategic partnership.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (3rd from R) and his Uzbek counterpart, Shavkat Mirziyoyev (2nd from L), hold summit talks in Seoul on Sept. 14, 2026. (Yonhap)

In a subsequent press release, South Korea presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said Lee and Mirziyoyev agreed to continue cooperation in transportation and logistics infrastructure sectors as well as the defense industry.

They, in particular, agreed to enhance cooperation to help South Korean companies actively join Uzbek infrastructure projects, based on their past participation in airport construction in the Central Asian country, Kang said.

Both leaders concurred on the importance of establishing systems favorable for South Korean firms operating in Uzbekistan in order to sustain bilateral trade and investment, welcoming the upcoming launch of a "Korea desk" at the Uzbek government as well as a South Korea-Uzbekistan committee of business consultation.

They also committed to pursuing cooperation in new areas, including critical minerals and the transition to AI and digital technology, while resolving to continue cooperation in jointly fighting the desertification of the Aral Sea and water shortages gripping Uzbekistan.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (L) and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev stand side by side during a welcoming ceremony at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Sept. 14, 2026. (Yonhap)

As part of the summit, the two countries signed a total of 13 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) and pacts to enhance cooperation between their governments in sectors including critical minerals, food and transportation, the presidential office here said.

One of the MOUs, signed between the Export-Import Bank of Korea and the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan, calls for securing business opportunities in six strategic industries in Uzbekistan, including critical minerals, data centers, smart cities and biotechnology.

Other MOUs respectively call for increased cooperation in the tourism sector, the transfer of Korean agricultural technology and cooperation in regulations regarding medical products, according to the presidential office.

S. Korea, ADB discuss supply chain, AI, energy ties

Science minister eyes more partnerships in AI, science with Central Asia

Seoul to hold 1st Central Asia summit, discuss critical minerals, supply chain cooperation

Gov't to raise terror alert ahead of First Korea-Central Asia Summit

BTS concludes N. American tour with record-breaking LA shows

BTS' Jungkook hits 500 mln Spotify streams with self-written 'Still With You'

(LEAD) Philippine defense chief slams China over audience note on South China Sea at Seoul forum

Son Ye-jin returns to historical drama in remake of 'The Scandal'

Badminton star An Se-young determined to enjoy herself in Asian Games title defense

(News Focus) S. Korea faces high-stakes decision on potential Hormuz Strait deployment

S. Korea, U.S. to hold high-level defense talks amid Hormuz deployment consideration

(LEAD) S. Korean president says hopes to deepen strategic partnership with Uzbekistan

这将使谷歌能够向您展示与您的搜索匹配或相关的韩联社新闻文章。

（注意：将更新更多结果，图片来自第13段）

首尔，9月14日（韩联社）——韩国总统李在明周一与乌兹别克斯坦总统沙夫卡特·米尔济约耶夫举行峰会会谈，并表示希望两国进一步深化双边战略伙伴关系，实现共同繁荣。

此次峰会是在首尔将于周三主办首届韩国—中亚峰会之前举行的，届时哈萨克斯坦、乌兹别克斯坦、土库曼斯坦、塔吉克斯坦和吉尔吉斯斯坦的国家元首将齐聚一堂，讨论合作事宜。

米尔济约耶夫是该地区首位在多边峰会前与李明博举行双边会谈的来访总统。

李说：“自1992年建交以来，韩国和乌兹别克斯坦在政治、经济、社会和文化等各个领域建立了牢固的合作关系。”他还强调，乌兹别克斯坦是首尔唯一与之建立特殊战略伙伴关系的中亚国家。

他称乌兹别克斯坦是韩国的“珍贵朋友和重要伙伴”。

“我希望两国在积累的深厚友谊和信任的基础上，进一步发展特殊战略伙伴关系，携手迈向共同繁荣与和平，”韩国总统表示。

总统列举了交通、基础设施、医疗保健、关键矿产供应链、人工智能和国防工业等领域，两国可以在这些领域开展合作，以互利共赢的方式扩大合作，并创造未来的增长。

李强调了两国在应对日益加剧的全球安全不确定性方面可以发挥的重要作用，并补充说，双边合作也将极大地有助于确保朝鲜半岛的和平与稳定。

2026年9月14日，韩国总统李在明（右）与乌兹别克斯坦总统沙夫卡特·米尔济约耶夫在首尔举行峰会会谈期间握手。（韩联社）

米尔济约耶夫总统表示，乌兹别克斯坦对韩国及其人民怀有特殊的感情，称两国人民拥有相似的情感和传统。

乌兹别克斯坦总统指出，两国尤其面临共同的挑战和优先事项，他以公众福祉为共同原则，并表示正是这一点将两国紧密联系在一起。

他还强调了两国在经济和国际社会中蓬勃发展的双边伙伴关系，并表示乌兹别克斯坦将坚定不移地支持首尔为在朝鲜半岛建立和平与稳定所做的努力。

“历史已经证明，我们的双边关系不会因政治变革而动摇。我们始终保持着平等、互利和友好的关系，”他说道，并表示希望此次对韩国的访问能够为两国的特殊战略伙伴关系注入新的动力。

2026年9月14日，韩国总统李在明（右三）与乌兹别克斯坦总统沙夫卡特·米尔济约耶夫（左二）在首尔举行峰会会谈。（韩联社）

在随后的新闻稿中，韩国总统发言人康裕贞表示，李明博和米尔济约耶夫同意继续在交通运输和物流基础设施领域以及国防工业领域开展合作。

康表示，双方尤其同意加强合作，帮助韩国企业积极参与乌兹别克斯坦的基础设施项目，这得益于韩国企业过去参与该中亚国家机场建设的经验。

两国领导人一致认为，建立有利于在乌兹别克斯坦经营的韩国企业的制度对于维持双边贸易和投资至关重要，并对乌兹别克斯坦政府即将设立“韩国事务处”以及成立韩乌商业磋商委员会表示欢迎。

他们还承诺在包括关键矿产和人工智能及数字技术转型在内的新领域开展合作，同时决心继续合作，共同应对咸海荒漠化和乌兹别克斯坦面临的水资源短缺问题。

2026年9月14日，韩国总统李在明（左）和乌兹别克斯坦总统沙夫卡特·米尔济约耶夫在首尔青瓦台举行的欢迎仪式上并肩而立。（韩联社）

总统府表示，作为峰会的一部分，两国共签署了 13 项谅解备忘录和协议，以加强两国政府在关键矿产、食品和交通运输等领域的合作。

韩国进出口银行与乌兹别克斯坦共和国投资、工业和贸易部签署的谅解备忘录之一，呼吁在乌兹别克斯坦的六个战略产业中确保商业机会，包括关键矿产、数据中心、智慧城市和生物技术。

据总统府称，其他谅解备忘录分别要求加强在旅游业的合作、韩国农业技术的转让以及在医疗产品法规方面的合作。

韩国与亚洲开发银行讨论供应链、人工智能和能源关系

科学部长寻求与中亚在人工智能和科学领域建立更多伙伴关系

首尔将举办首届中亚峰会，讨论关键矿产和供应链合作等议题。

政府将在首次朝韩中亚峰会前提高恐怖袭击警戒级别

BTS北美巡演圆满落幕，洛杉矶站演出打破多项纪录。

BTS成员柾国凭借自作曲《Still With You》在Spotify上的播放量突破5亿次。

（导语）菲律宾国防部长抨击中国在首尔论坛上就南海问题发表的发言。

孙艺珍回归古装剧​​，翻拍《绯闻》

羽毛球明星安世荣决心在亚运会卫冕战中尽情享受比赛。

（新闻焦点）韩国面临是否在霍尔木兹海峡部署武器的高风险决定。

韩国和美国将在考虑部署霍尔木兹号卫星系统之际举行高级别防务会谈

（导语）韩国总统表示希望深化与乌兹别克斯坦的战略伙伴关系