S. Korea, Uzbekistan to deepen economic, political cooperation

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with Cheong Wa Dae's press briefing, agreement on Navoi
development)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Feb. 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Uzbekistan on Thursday signed accords
on building a chemicals plant and developing a gas field in the Central Asian
country, after their leaders held a summit in Seoul to discuss measures to
further boost bilateral economic and political cooperation.
The two countries signed a bilateral investment treaty (BIT) on their
US$3-billion project to construct a chemicals plant and develop a gas field in
the Uzbek region of Surgil, South Korea's presidential office said.
In their two-hour summit here, President Lee Myung-bak and his Uzbek counterpart
Islam Karimov agreed that the signing of the BIT on the Surgil project is the
latest symbol of the two countries' closer partnership. Karimov arrived here on
Wednesday on a three-day trip to reciprocate Lee's trip to Tashkent in May last
year.
Thursday's meeting was their fifth, according to the South Korean presidential
office Cheong Wa Dae.
"The leaders expressed satisfaction over the consistent development of the two
countries' relations in various fields including politics, economy, and culture,
and reaffirmed their will to make joint efforts to deepen a strategic
partnership," read a joint press release issued after the summit.
Lee and Karimov welcomed the signing of the BIT and fresh deals on joint
exploration of oil fields in West Fergana and Chinabad in Uzbekistan, it added.
South Korea and Uzbekistan are already working together to explore the Namangan
and Chust oil fields.
Energy-rich Uzbekistan has emerged as a major economic partner for South Korea,
which imports 97 percent of its energy and minerals needs.
"The leaders also agreed to boost cooperation on the green growth sector
including the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)," the document said. CNG, a fossil
fuel, is a more environmentally friendly substitute for gasoline, diesel or
propane fuel.
They agreed to work together for the success of Uzbekistan's ambitious plan to
turn its Navoi airport in the southwestern part of the country into a regional
logistics hub and create a free industrial and economic zone there.
South Korea's presidential office said the summit helped deepen a "Strategic
Partnership" between the two nations.
"This summit was meaningful in that the leaders confirmed that their summit
agreements in May last year are being smoothly implemented and produced results a
step forward," Cheong Wa Dae spokeswoman Kim Eun-hye said.
She added that the leaders, based on mutual trust and friendship, used the summit
to deepen the South Korea-Uzbekistan Strategic Partnership beyond simple economic
cooperation diplomacy.
Meanwhile, the South Korean president reaffirmed his pledge to expand official
development assistance for the Central Asian country, which is eager to develop
its health and medical industry, education sector and infrastructure as well as
to learn from South Korea's experience in rapid economic growth and
macroeconomic policy.
On regional and global issues, they agreed to the importance of the "complete and
verifiable denuclearization" of North Korea to Northeast Asia's security.
President Karimov expressed support for the South Korean government's position to
resolve the nuclear crisis through the prompt resumption of the six-way talks,
according to the joint press release.
The two sides also agreed to join hands to help reconstruct Afghanistan.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)