Karimov to visit S. Korea next week

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Uzbek President Islam Karimov plans to visit South
Korea next week for talks on joint economic projects and international issues,
South Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae announced Tuesday.
Karimov's three-day trip from Feb. 10 is meant to reciprocate President Lee
Myung-bak's state visit to the Central Asian nation in May last year, it added.
The leaders are scheduled to hold a summit in Seoul on Thursday next week,
followed by a "state guest dinner," Cheong Wa Dae said.
They "plan to discuss ways to promote bilateral cooperation in various fields
including joint gas field development in Surgil and the development of the Navoi
airport into an international logistical hub, as well as agriculture, the
environment and culture," it said in a press release. In addition, the presidents
will have wide-ranging discussions on regional and international affairs.
Karimov will also meet Prime Minister Chung Un-chan, National Assembly Speaker
Kim Hyong-o, Finance Minister Yoon Jeung-hyun, and other political and business
leaders.
"President Karimov's state visit this time is expected to help bolster a
strategic partnership between the two nations and develop the South Korean
government's New Asia Diplomacy," Cheong Wa Dae said.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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