1. Deputy Minister for Political Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kim Gunn held the 14^th Republic of Korea-Republic of Uzbekistan Policy Consultation with Deputy Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Furqat Sidiqov on November 5. In the consultation, the two sides took note of the progress in bilateral cooperation including cooperation in COVID-19 response and substantive cooperation, and reviewed the status of preparations for the 13^th Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum.

2. The two sides noted with appreciation that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, the ROK and Uzbekistan have steadily developed friendly and cooperative relations including holding sixteen bilateral summits. They also shared the view that the ROK’s cooperation with Uzbekistan, a key cooperation partner for the New Northern Policy, has further deepened, noting that during President Moon Jae-in’s visit to Uzbekistan last year, bilateral relations were elevated to the “special strategic partnership.”

o In particular, the two sides took note that Deputy Prime Minister Umurzakov had visited the ROK in July even amid the COVID-19 pandemic and had checked on the progress in cooperation projects, and that the two countries have been closely cooperating through non-face-to-face interactions, including two phone conversations between the Presidents, a virtual meeting between the Deputy Prime Ministers, and a phone conversation between the Foreign Ministers.

3. The two sides shared the view that the two countries reaffirmed their special friendship and mutual trust amid the COVID-19 crisis through close cooperation, including supporting the repatriation of their nationals through the operation of temporary flights, sending Korean medical experts to Uzbekistan, and providing humanitarian assistance.

o Deputy Minister Sidiqov said that the ROK’s response to COVID-19 has become an exemplary model for the world and added that the ROK’s assistance was a great help in Uzbekistan’s response to COVID-19.

4. The two sides noted that in follow-up to last year’s summit, consultations for concluding the bilateral trade agreement are being carried out smoothly, and agreed to continue to work together so that substantive cooperation projects underway between the two countries can lead to successful and mutually-beneficial ones like the Surgil gas chemical complex.

o Deputy Minister Kim expressed hope that Korean companies would continue to participate in the Uzbek government’s large-scale energy and infrastructure projects, including the projects to modernize the Mubarek power plant and the Bukhara oil refinery.

o Deputy Minister Sidiqov said that economic cooperation between the two countries is being carried out in a mutually-beneficial manner in various sectors, and that Uzbekistan will cooperate in helping Korean companies operate in the country.

5. The two sides shared the view that the Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum launched in 2007 has established an exemplary framework for multilateral cooperation that promotes substantive cooperation between the ROK and Central Asia in various fields.

o Deputy Minister Kim expressed gratitude for Uzbekistan’s active participation in the past twelve Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forums. Deputy Minister Sidiqov took note that the Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum is contributing significantly to exploring and implementing mutually-beneficial cooperative projects between the ROK and Central Asia.

6. Today’s meeting was the third deputy ministerial-level meeting that the Foreign Ministry has held with a Central Asian country to review the status of preparations for the 13^th Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum scheduled for November 25 as well as bilateral issues. The Foreign Ministry will prepare for the 13^th Forum more systematically including through deputy ministerial-level meetings between the ROK and Tajikistan and between the ROK and five Central Asian countries.

o Prior to this meeting, the Foreign Ministry discussed the status of preparations for the 13^th Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum and bilateral issues through the ROK-Turkmenistan Policy Consultation (Oct. 29) and the ROK-Kazakhstan deputy ministerial-level meeting (Nov. 5).