Friendship between leaders strengthens Uzbekistan-Korea ties
By Choi Young-ha
For 30 years, since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea, the two countries have been developing on the basis of the principles of friendship, mutual understanding and respect.
Today, the relations between the two countries continue to develop as a result of about 200 agreements and treaties signed in various fields.
Important documents include: the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership (2006), the Joint Declaration on Further Development and Deepening of Strategic Partnership (2014), the Joint Statement on Comprehensive Deepening of Relations of Strategic Partnership (2014), the Joint Declaration on Special Strategic Partnership (2019) and the Joint Statement on Deepening Special Strategic Partnership (2021). These agreements have allowed bilateral relations in the political, trade, economic, investment, cultural and humanitarian spheres to reach a qualitatively new level.
Political relations between the two countries in the international arena continue in the spirit of mutual support. The two countries have similar stances on many issues of global and regional significance.
Most importantly, since the establishment of diplomatic relations, 17 meetings at the level of heads of state have been held. In recent years, these dialogues have become more active, and friendly relations between the two countries are reflected in the most important sectors of the economy and in the humanitarian sphere.
Even under today's difficult epidemiological conditions, the implementation of large investment and trade projects is being ensured, and new joint facilities are being launched. One of them is a modern children's multidisciplinary medical center, established in Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan, with the support of South Korea, which is unique for the region.
Even amid the pandemic, the relationship between the two countries has not stopped developing. In 2020, the heads of state had two telephone conversations and jointly participated in the Second International Forum of Northern Economic Cooperation. Our cooperation in 2021 began with an online summit between Presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President Moon Jae-in. At the end of the year, the meeting of the two heads of state in Seoul marked the end of 2021.
During last year's meeting in Seoul, the President of Uzbekistan noted that in the near future, the main cooperation agenda is to focus on “green” development, digitalization and the strengthening of the social protection system. It was suggested that all future joint projects, programs and action plans are to be developed based on these key priorities.
President Mirziyoyev stressed that Uzbekistan's combination of human capital and natural resources with the advanced technologies and knowledge of Korea can create a good basis for the development of products in high demand on the world market. In this regard, it was proposed to establish an Uzbek-Korean cluster for the production of semiconductors and electronics in the Tashkent region with the involvement of the Economic Development Promotion Fund (EDPF).
The large Korean diaspora in Uzbekistan plays an important role in supporting friendly relations between the two countries and bringing our peoples even closer. It is the largest diaspora in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) with more than 180,000 and the fourth largest in the world. This year, the 85th anniversary of ethnic Koreans living in Uzbekistan will be widely celebrated.
That is why President Mirziyoyev proposed to declare 2022 the Year of Mutual Exchange between Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea, to establish a library in Tashkent under the Museum of Korean History and the Korean House of Culture and Arts in order to enhance understanding of the Korean diaspora in Uzbekistan further.
Thirty years have passed since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Over the past period, the bilateral relations have reached the level of a special strategic partnership. The friendship and political will of Mirziyoyev and Moon gave a new impetus to Uzbek-Korean cooperation.
Choi Young-ha is the former ambassador of Korea to Uzbekistan.