Korea, Uzbekistan agree on cooperation in critical mineral supply chains

President Lee Jae Myung and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev agreed in Seoul on Monday to expand cooperation in critical mineral supply chains, AI and other emerging industries. The summit came ahead of Korea’s inaugural multilateral meeting with five Central Asian countries on Wednesday. The two sides also signed 13 agreements and MOUs covering infrastructure, biotechnology, climate action, education, agriculture and defense.

Lee said Korea and Uzbekistan could broaden cooperation in transportation infrastructure, health care, climate crisis responses, critical mineral supply chains, AI, digital technology and the defense industry.

Korea’s inaugural multilateral summit with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan is set for Wednesday in Seoul.

One MOU calls for feasibility studies on Uzbekistan’s introduction of eight high-speed train sets and the establishment of the Biome Center, a national genome and biobank facility.

Another agreement sets up a system to identify and finance projects in six Uzbek strategic industries: critical minerals, AI and data centers, smart cities, a dedicated industrial complex for Korean companies, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, and food, beauty and cultural content.

Mirziyoyev said more than 700 Korean companies operate in Uzbekistan through joint ventures and that Korean investment continues to expand.

Published Sep 14, 2026 6:28 pm KST

Updated Sep 14, 2026 8:27 pm KST

Summit launches Lee's series of talks with 5 Central Asian leaders

President Lee Jae Myung shakes hands with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev before their expanded summit at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev agreed to expand cooperation in critical mineral supply chains, artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging industries, Monday, as Korea seeks closer economic ties with resource-rich Central Asia.

“From transportation infrastructure to health care, responses to the climate crisis, critical mineral supply chains, AI, digital technology and the defense industry, I believe we can broaden mutually beneficial cooperation and jointly foster new drivers of future growth,” Lee said during their summit in Seoul.

His remarks came ahead of Korea’s inaugural multilateral summit with five Central Asian countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan — in Seoul, Wednesday.

Wednesday’s gathering is expected to explore linking Central Asia’s critical minerals and energy resources with Korea’s exploration, processing and advanced manufacturing technologies.

President Lee Jae Myung and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, accompanied by their officials, hold a summit at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

Lee said Uzbekistan is Korea’s only special strategic partner in Central Asia, describing the country as an invaluable friend and key partner.

“Based on the deep friendship and trust built between our two countries, I hope we will further develop our special strategic partnership and make progress together toward shared prosperity and peace,” he said.

Lee also noted that Uzbekistan is home to nearly 200,000 ethnic Koreans, known as Koryoin, and expressed gratitude to the Uzbek people for embracing the community during difficult times.

He thanked Uzbekistan for consistently supporting peace on the Korean Peninsula, saying cooperation between Seoul and Tashkent could also contribute to peace and stability across Eurasia.

Mirziyoyev said the priorities of the two countries closely align, particularly their shared emphasis on improving people’s well-being.

“Korea is one of Uzbekistan’s major trading partners,” he said, according to Cheong Wa Dae. “More than 700 Korean companies operate in Uzbekistan through joint ventures, and Korean investment continues to expand,” he said.

He added that Korea’s experience and technologies are being shared across a broad range of sectors, including digital government, education, information technology, agriculture and health care.

Mirziyoyev also reaffirmed his country’s support for the Korean government’s efforts to strengthen peace and security on the Korean Peninsula.

“History shows that relations between our two countries are not swayed by political changes,” he said, expressing hope that his visit would inject fresh momentum into the countries’ special strategic partnership.

During Monday’s summit, Seoul and Tashkent signed 13 agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOU) covering infrastructure, biotechnology, AI, climate action, education, agriculture and defense.

One MOU calls for feasibility studies into Uzbekistan’s introduction of eight high-speed train sets and the establishment of the Biome Center, a national genome and biobank facility. The studies will be conducted under Korea’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund.

Another establishes a system for identifying and financing projects in six of Uzbekistan’s strategic industries. The six are critical minerals, AI and data centers, smart cities, a dedicated industrial complex for Korean companies, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, and food, beauty and cultural content.

The two countries also agreed to promote AI-driven innovation in manufacturing through technological cooperation, knowledge sharing, workforce training and infrastructure development.

A separate MOU covers digital forest restoration and climate action, including satellite- and information technology-based forest management, biodiversity conservation and the restoration of forested areas affected by disasters.

The initiative is aimed partly at addressing cross-border environmental challenges in Central Asia, including the desertification of the Aral Sea.

Mirziyoyev and the presidents of Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan are making state visits to Korea, while the leaders of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are making official visits.

韩国总统李在明和乌兹别克斯坦总统沙夫卡特·米尔济约耶夫周一在首尔达成一致，将扩大在关键矿产供应链、人工智能和其他新兴产业领域的合作。此次峰会是在韩国周三与五个中亚国家举行首次多边会议之前举行的。双方还签署了13项协议和谅解备忘录，涵盖基础设施、生物技术、气候行动、教育、农业和国防等领域。

李表示，韩国和乌兹别克斯坦可以扩大在交通基础设施、医疗保健、气候危机应对、关键矿产供应链、人工智能、数字技术和国防工业等领域的合作。

韩国与哈萨克斯坦、吉尔吉斯斯坦、塔吉克斯坦、土库曼斯坦和乌兹别克斯坦的首次多边峰会定于周三在首尔举行。

其中一份谅解备忘录要求对乌兹别克斯坦引进八列高速列车以及建立生物群落中心（一个国家基因组和生物样本库设施）进行可行性研究。

另一项协议建立了一个系统，用于识别和资助乌兹别克斯坦六个战略产业的项目：关键矿产、人工智能和数据中心、智慧城市、韩国企业专用工业园区、制药和生物技术以及食品、美容和文化内容。

米尔济约耶夫表示，有700多家韩国公司通过合资企业在乌兹别克斯坦开展业务，韩国的投资仍在不断扩大。

发布于2026年9月14日 下午6:28（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年9月14日晚上8:27（韩国标准时间）

峰会启动了李光耀与五位中亚领导人的一系列会谈。

周一，韩国总统李在明在首尔青瓦台与乌兹别克斯坦总统沙夫卡特·米尔济约耶夫举行扩大峰会前握手。（韩联社）

周一，韩国总统李在明和乌兹别克斯坦总统沙夫卡特·米尔济约耶夫同意扩大在关键矿产供应链、人工智能（AI）和其他新兴产业领域的合作，韩国正寻求与资源丰富的中亚地区建立更紧密的经济联系。

李在首尔举行的峰会上表示：“从交通基础设施到医疗保健，从应对气候危机到关键矿产供应链，从人工智能到数字技术再到国防工业，我相信我们可以扩大互利合作，共同培育未来增长的新动力。”

他的这番言论是在韩国与五个中亚国家（哈萨克斯坦、吉尔吉斯斯坦、塔吉克斯坦、土库曼斯坦和乌兹别克斯坦）在首尔举行首次多边峰会之前发表的，峰会将于周三举行。

预计周三的会议将探讨如何将中亚的关键矿产和能源资源与韩国的勘探、加工和先进制造技术联系起来。

韩国总统李在明和乌兹别克斯坦总统沙夫卡特·米尔济约耶夫周一在首尔青瓦台举行峰会，双方官员陪同出席。（韩联社）

李表示，乌兹别克斯坦是韩国在中亚唯一的特殊战略伙伴，称该国是韩国宝贵的朋友和关键伙伴。

他说：“基于我们两国之间建立的深厚友谊和信任，我希望我们能够进一步发展特殊的战略伙伴关系，共同朝着共同繁荣与和平的目标迈进。”

李还指出，乌兹别克斯坦有近20万朝鲜族人（高丽人），并对乌兹别克人民在困难时期接纳该族群表示感谢。

他感谢乌兹别克斯坦一直以来对朝鲜半岛和平的支持，并表示首尔和塔什干之间的合作也有助于整个欧亚大陆的和平与稳定。

米尔济约耶夫表示，两国的优先事项高度一致，尤其是在改善人民福祉方面，两国有着共同的重视。

据青瓦台消息，他表示：“韩国是乌兹别克斯坦的主要贸易伙伴之一。超过700家韩国公司通过合资企业在乌兹别克斯坦开展业务，韩国的投资也在持续增长。”

他还补充说，韩国的经验和技术正在各个领域进行分享，包括数字政府、教育、信息技术、农业和医疗保健。

米尔济约耶夫还重申，他的国家支持韩国政府为加强朝鲜半岛和平与安全所做的努力。

“历史表明，我们两国关系不会因政治变革而动摇，”他说道，并表示希望此次访问能为两国的特殊战略伙伴关系注入新的动力。

在周一的峰会上，首尔和塔什干签署了 13 项协议和谅解备忘录，涵盖基础设施、生物技术、人工智能、气候行动、教育、农业和国防等领域。

其中一份谅解备忘录要求对乌兹别克斯坦引进八列高速列车以及建立国家基因组和生物样本库——生物群落中心——的可行性进行研究。这些研究将在韩国经济发展合作基金的资助下开展。

另一项计划则建立了一套系统，用于识别和资助乌兹别克斯坦六大战略产业的项目。这六大产业分别是关键矿产、人工智能和数据中心、智慧城市、韩国企业专用工业园区、制药和生物技术，以及食品、美容和文化内容。

两国还同意通过技术合作、知识共享、劳动力培训和基础设施建设，促进人工智能驱动的制造业创新。

另一份谅解备忘录涵盖了数字森林恢复和气候行动，包括基于卫星和信息技术的森林管理、生物多样性保护以及受灾害影响的森林地区的恢复。

该倡议的部分目的是为了应对中亚的跨境环境挑战，包括咸海的荒漠化问题。

米尔济约耶夫和土库曼斯坦、哈萨克斯坦总统正在对韩国进行国事访问，而塔吉克斯坦和吉尔吉斯斯坦的领导人正在对韩国进行正式访问。