ID :
105732
Wed, 02/10/2010 - 10:43
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/105732
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Korea, Uzbekistan agree to boost ties ahead of summit
SEOUL, Feb. 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan and his Uzbek counterpart Elyer Ganiev agreed Wednesday to boost economic ties and deepen their countries' strategic relationship, Seoul's foreign ministry said.
Ganiev, who also holds the title of vice prime minister, arrived here Tuesday
ahead of a three-day state visit by Uzbek President Islam Karimov set to start
Wednesday.
"Vice Prime Minister Ganiev expressed gratitude for the South Korean government's
warm welcome extended to President Karimov while also expressing satisfaction
over the great development of ties and cooperation between the countries in the
political, economic and cultural sectors based on the friendship and trust of
their leaders," the ministry said of the Yu-Ganiev meeting.
The South Korean foreign minister noted President Karimov's visit here will
further enhance the countries' strategic partnership, forged in 2005 at a summit
between the Uzbek president and then South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun.
President Lee and President Karimov will hold a summit here on Thursday.
Following their meeting at the foreign ministry, Yu and Ganiev signed four
agreements, under which South Korea will provide assistance worth US$8.65 million
to the Central Asian nation.
Seoul will build four water pumps in Uzbekistan's northern Khorezm region before
the end of the year under a $1.5-million deal to help secure a safe drinking
water source there, the ministry said.
The country will also provide $3 million worth of support and supplies to help
improve Uzbekistan's ability to curb or eradicate contagious diseases.
"The total amount of our assistance for Uzbekistan this year alone will come to
nearly $12 million as the country is also set to send 57 volunteers while
inviting nearly 100 Uzbek workers to come to South Korea for a training program,"
a ministry official told reporters.
Apart from the four agreements on economic cooperation, the countries also signed
a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation that will lead to the
establishment of a joint committee on the purchase of defense goods.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
Ganiev, who also holds the title of vice prime minister, arrived here Tuesday
ahead of a three-day state visit by Uzbek President Islam Karimov set to start
Wednesday.
"Vice Prime Minister Ganiev expressed gratitude for the South Korean government's
warm welcome extended to President Karimov while also expressing satisfaction
over the great development of ties and cooperation between the countries in the
political, economic and cultural sectors based on the friendship and trust of
their leaders," the ministry said of the Yu-Ganiev meeting.
The South Korean foreign minister noted President Karimov's visit here will
further enhance the countries' strategic partnership, forged in 2005 at a summit
between the Uzbek president and then South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun.
President Lee and President Karimov will hold a summit here on Thursday.
Following their meeting at the foreign ministry, Yu and Ganiev signed four
agreements, under which South Korea will provide assistance worth US$8.65 million
to the Central Asian nation.
Seoul will build four water pumps in Uzbekistan's northern Khorezm region before
the end of the year under a $1.5-million deal to help secure a safe drinking
water source there, the ministry said.
The country will also provide $3 million worth of support and supplies to help
improve Uzbekistan's ability to curb or eradicate contagious diseases.
"The total amount of our assistance for Uzbekistan this year alone will come to
nearly $12 million as the country is also set to send 57 volunteers while
inviting nearly 100 Uzbek workers to come to South Korea for a training program,"
a ministry official told reporters.
Apart from the four agreements on economic cooperation, the countries also signed
a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation that will lead to the
establishment of a joint committee on the purchase of defense goods.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
