Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrives in Seoul, meets Uzbek citizens
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan arrived in Seoul on Sunday for a three-day state visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and expanding economic cooperation with the Republic of Korea.
Accompanied by First Lady Ziroat Mirziyoyeva, the president received a ceremonial welcome at the Seoul Air Base. The arrival featured an artillery salute and an honour guard. South Korean Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yun-cheol formally greeted the delegation alongside other senior officials.
The visit comes at the invitation of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. The leaders are scheduled to hold extensive talks in both narrow and expanded formats. Discussions will focus on deepening the special strategic partnership between the two nations, expanding investment and advancing digital transformation initiatives.
Mirziyoyev’s itinerary includes meetings with National Assembly Speaker Cho Jung-sik and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. The Uzbek leader will also engage with executives from major Korean financial institutions and corporations.
Following his arrival he held a dedicated meeting with Uzbek compatriots currently working and studying in South Korea. The discussion covered ongoing domestic reforms in Uzbekistan, the students’ academic progress and the broader significance of the bilateral agreements expected to be signed during this visit.
Focus on regional cooperation and culture
A central component of the diplomatic trip involves the inaugural Central Asia-Republic of Korea Summit scheduled for Wednesday, September 16. Regional leaders will gather to discuss broad prospects for cooperation across trade, infrastructure, science and technology sectors. The multilateral summit is expected to conclude with the formal adoption of the Seoul Declaration.
The state visit extends beyond political and economic negotiations. Mirziyoyev will deliver a keynote address at the opening of a joint Uzbek-Korean business forum designed to foster direct commercial partnerships and attract foreign investment.
To complement the diplomatic agenda organisers have launched the Days of Uzbek Culture. The initiative features a series of exhibitions and performances in Seoul and several other South Korean municipalities.
