Press Briefing 

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Affairs Soosuk Lim

September 7, 2023  14:30  KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin will hold the 1st Korea-Uzbekistan foreign ministers’ strategic dialogue with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov on the afternoon of September 11.

The strategic dialogue was established this year as a ministerial-level consultative forum to comprehensively discuss key issues between the two countries. 

In the dialogue, the two sides will discuss issues of mutual interest, including transportation and infrastructure, supply chains, health, and ICT, as well as regional affairs and ways to cooperate in the international arena. Regarding Korea’s bid to host the World Expo in Busan, Foreign Minister Park will request Uzbekistan’s support.

In addition, on the morning of September 12, Foreign Minister Park will attend the Korea-Uzbekistan business forum, where he will listen to the current state of economic cooperation and offer words of encouragement to entrepreneurs from both countries.

Uzbekistan is home to about 180,000 ethnic Koreans in Central Asia, the largest number in Central Asia, and a major friend that established the Special Strategic Partnership with Korea. 

(A question-and-answer session followed.)