The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Uzbekistan, Kim Hee-Sang, visited the International Institute for Central Asia (IICA) to discuss and explore future avenues of collaboration, IICA reported.
The meeting between Ambassador Kim Hee-Sang and the Director of IICA focused on the remarkable progress in bilateral relations between Uzbekistan and Korea. The Ambassador commended the efforts of the Uzbekistan head of state in fostering unprecedented growth in relations, emphasizing that the ongoing cooperation in various fields continues to yield fruitful results.
Tashkent and Seoul have been actively building a mutually beneficial partnership, placing a high priority on strengthening high-level dialogues to enhance interstate interaction. Over the past year, both countries have witnessed a surge in diplomatic engagements, including meetings between the presidents in New York and visits by six Korean ministers to Tashkent, covering areas such as foreign affairs, economy, and defense. The foreign ministers also held meetings in Tashkent, Dushanbe, and Seoul, underlining the commitment to sustained dialogue.
In light of this increased collaboration, Uzbekistan and South Korea have witnessed progressive development in bilateral relations, achieving high dynamics in deepening multifaceted cooperation. Uzbekistan hosts over 180,000 ethnic Koreans, making it the largest Korean diaspora in Central Asia and the fifth-largest globally.
Trade relations between the two nations are flourishing, with Uzbekistan serving as South Korea's key trading partner in Central Asia. The trade turnover reached $2.34bn last year, underscoring the economic significance of the relationship.
During the discussions, both parties highlighted the special significance of the C5+ format for Korea, given the high geopolitical importance of Central Asia. The Republic of Korea took the lead in proposing the C5+ Republic of Korea platform in 2007, bolstering regional multilateral ties.
One notable outcome of the 16th Cooperation Forum "Republic of Korea – Central Asia" was the decision to establish the Korea – Central Asia Think Tank Forum. This initiative underscores the importance of research institutions in enhancing cooperation between the countries. The inaugural forum is scheduled to take place this year in the Republic of Korea, with experts from the International Institute for Central Asia representing Uzbekistan.
Following the meeting, Ambassador Kim Hee-Sang expressed the importance of strengthening cooperation between the expert and analytical community of Central Asian countries. He declared his readiness to foster closer ties between IICA and leading agencies and think tanks in Korea, signaling a commitment to furthering collaborative efforts in research and analysis.
In fact, Uzbekistan is represent the fifth-largest foreign diaspora in South Korea. By the end of 2023, the number of Uzbek citizens residing in South Korea reached 87,600, signifying a notable rise from the previous year's reported figure of 69,000. Currently, about one-seventh of the Uzbek community in South Korea, totaling 12,500 individuals, are actively engaged in university education, showcasing a discernible trend of increasing interest in higher education opportunities within the country.
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