Businessmen from South Korea and Uzbekistan held a meeting in Tashkent on Monday to push for greater cooperation between the two nations, Seoul's finance ministry said.

The meeting, also attended by government officials from the both sides, including South Korean Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon, was arranged to hear the voices of businessmen.

Representatives of South Korean companies such as GS Engineering & Construction Co. and Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co. attended the meeting.

Kim is set to hold a finance minister meeting this week as part of an ongoing effort to further enhance bilateral ties and cooperation between the two countries

Finance Minister Kim will hold a meeting with Uzbekistan's Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov in Tashkent on Tuesday.

Their planned talks are a follow-up measure to a summit meeting between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in November of last year, it added.

As part of efforts to upgrade the countries' bilateral relationship, the two leaders agreed to expand exchanges between ranking government officials and also expand areas of cooperation.

Moon and Mirziyoyev reaffirmed their joint efforts to further develop South Korea-Uzbekistan ties and also boost their economic and trade relations.

In this photo provided by the South Korean finance ministry, South Korean Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon (4th from R) speaks during a meeting in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Feb. 12, 2018. The meeting was attended by businessmen and government officials from both countries. (Yonhap)

Kim, meanwhile, had talks with Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Sukhrob Holmuradov before the business dialogue session, according to his ministry.

The Uzbek official promised efforts to reduce difficulties facing South Korean firms there, especially in connection with compressed natural gas (CNG) stations, automated meter and print paper businesses, it added.

Over the weekend, the Central Asian nation introduced a visa waiver program for nationals of South Korea and six other countries, with Kim and his entourage benefiting from it, an official said.

South Korean Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon (2nd from R) meets with Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Sukhrob Holmuradov (2nd from L) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Feb. 12, 2018, in this photo provided by Kim's ministry. (Yonhap)

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