Rep. Kim Kyo-heung of the Democratic Party of Korea, who chairs the Korea-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Friendship Association, met with Uzbekistan's Ambassador to South Korea Alisher Abdusalomov on Thursday to discuss ways to strengthen practical cooperation between the two countries, Kim's office announced Monday.
Kim said he arranged the meeting to help lay the groundwork for President Lee Jae-myung to successfully host the Korea-Central Asia Summit in September. "Uzbekistan is the only Central Asian country to have established a special strategic partnership with South Korea, making it a key partner," he said.
During the meeting, Kim and Ambassador Abdusalomov exchanged views on a range of issues: revitalizing exchanges between the two countries' parliaments and friendship associations, expanding practical cooperation in areas such as healthcare and high-speed rail, strengthening collaboration on critical minerals, supply chains and economic investment, and supporting the 90th anniversary of Koryo-saram settlement in Uzbekistan along with plans to build a history museum.
"Since President Mirziyoyev took office, trade between Korea and Uzbekistan has roughly doubled and investment has grown 4.5-fold, reflecting steady expansion in economic cooperation," Kim said. "I will work to ensure cooperation can be further expanded in future-oriented fields such as critical minerals, education and AI."
He also emphasized that the approximately 170,000-strong Koryo-saram community in Uzbekistan serves as an important bridge between the two countries. "I will actively cooperate at the National Assembly level — including on the construction of a history museum — so that the history and culture of the Koryo-saram can be commemorated and passed on to future generations," he said.
Ambassador Abdusalomov thanked Kim for his role in promoting cooperation between the two countries' parliaments. "I ask for Rep. Kim's continued attention and support to ensure the summit is held successfully and that Korean companies can actively participate in Uzbekistan's economy and investment sector," he said.
Kim visited Uzbekistan in June, where he met with Senate Speaker Narbaeva and Safaev, chair of the Uzbekistan-Korea Parliamentary Friendship Association, and attended the Korea-Uzbekistan Economic Cooperation Forum to assess the state of bilateral cooperation firsthand.
bigroot@heraldcorp.com
