S. Korea, Uzbekistan agree to strengthen ties, cooperation

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead paras with summit results; UPDATES with more details)
By Byun Duk-kun
TASHKENT, May 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Uzbek
President Islam Karimov agreed Monday to significantly strengthen ties between
their countries, noting their strategic partnership is mutually beneficial.
The agreement came in a joint statement issued at the end of a summit held here
in the Uzbek capital. Lee arrived here Sunday on a three-day state visit.
"Both sides expressed satisfaction that their bilateral relations in political,
economic, cultural and humanitarian sectors have significantly developed in
recent years and agreed to increase cooperation between their governments,
parliaments, economies and private organizations to further strengthen their
strategic partnership," the joint statement said.
The leaders also agreed to step up their economic and energy cooperation.
Uzbekistan has agreed to renew and launch joint projects with South Korea to
explore new oil fields and mineral mines with Seoul, according to the 12-point
statement.
Seoul will boost its economic assistance to Tashkent, introducing a new
employment program to allow more Uzbek workers into the South Korean economy, the
world's 13th largest, it said.
"I believe this (summit) will be a very important opportunity for the development
of the relationship between the two countries, as well as the development of
Uzbekistan," the South Korean president said Sunday in a brief meeting with his
Uzbek counterpart at the airport.
"Cooperation between Uzbekistan and Korea is becoming a very important
relationship," replied Karimov, according to a spokesman for the South Korean
presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.
Lee and Karimov will head to Uzbekistan's ancient city of Samarkand Tuesday for a
brief tour. The South Korean president will leave for Kazakhstan later that day
for a three-day state visit.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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