[Unofficial Translation] 

Following our meeting in New York last September, it is a great pleasure to see you again, President Mirziyoyev, here in Tashkent on the occasion of my state visit to Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan is one of the few Special Strategic Partners of Korea. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1992, our two countries have achieved remarkable progress in our bilateral relations. Trade and investment have increased steadily, reaching a record high last year, and cooperation in the fields of energy and infrastructure has also been active.

Korea and Uzbekistan are now expanding the scope of our bilateral cooperation to encompass areas such as supply chain, defense, healthcare, climate change and education.

I remember you saying during our last summit in New York that Korea’s development equates to Uzbekistan’s development. Those words ring true—by combining Korea’s experience of accelerated growth and digital expertise with Uzbekistan’s abundant natural resources and its aspiration for development, we will be able to create mutual progress for both countries.

Recently, the Korean government announced the “K-Silk Road Initiative on Cooperation between Korea and Central Asia”. This initiative encapsulates a new vision for our strategy toward Central Asia, including Uzbekistan. It aims to help Korea and Central Asia advance together toward a free, peaceful and prosperous future. It is based on the collaborative principles of companionship, convergence and creativity, building upon Korea’s high-tech and digital capabilities.

I look forward to working closely with Uzbekistan, a key country in Central Asia, on implementing this initiative.

The Korean government fully supports the Uzbekistan-2030 Strategy proposed by President Mirziyoyev. I look forward to having detailed discussions on ways to further deepen our Special Strategic Partnership.