For three days on June 27-29, 2015
President Islam Abduganievich Karimov of the Republic of Uzbekistan makes an official state visit to the Republic of Korea on May 27-29, 2015 at the invitation of President Park Geun-hye. This was announced by the Presidential Office of Cheong Wa Dae today.
Uzbekistan has been making an average 8% economic growth in the past 10 years in spite of unfavorable economic environment of the world, and has plentiful natural resources, including natural gas, cotton, uranium and gold.
Uzbekistanhas a population of over 30 million people, and has the largest market in the Central Asian region.
Uzbekistan is also a transportation hub that links the Central Asian Region and Eurasia with railroad and air transportation.
President Park Geun-hye and President Islam Karimov are scheduled to have a summit meeting and a State Quest Dinner on May 28, 2015. Through such contacts between the two Presidents, Korea and Uzbekistan are scheduled to discuss ways for the Korean businesses to participate in the industrial modernization and development of infrastructure in Uzbekistan as well as further expansion of cooperation in various areas, including defense industry, national defense, training of qualified manpower and various other areas.
The two Presidents will also discuss matters related with increasing human and cultural exchanges and cooperation on the North Korea policy and in the formation of foundation for the peaceful unification of the Korean peninsula.
Uzbekistan is scheduled to invest a total of US$55 billion in the next five years in the modernization of its industry and development of new infrastructure. Korea and Uzbekistan have been closely cooperating with each other and Korean businesses are engaged in various development projects in Uzbekistan, including development of gas fields and construction of gas-chemical plant (US$3.9 billion), gas liquidification business (US$3.1 billion) and integrated thermo power plant construction (US$820 million).
The two Heads of State are also expected to assess the progress of projects agreed upon during President Park’s visit to Uzbekistan in June last year and discuss ways to further upgrade the bilateral relationship as strategic partners.