ID :
59903
Sun, 05/10/2009 - 20:06
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/59903
The shortlink copeid
S. Korean president arrives in Uzbekistan for summit
(ATTN: CHANGES dateline; RECASTS headline, lead paras; UPDATES with remarks from
South Korean and Uzbek presidents, minor changes throughout)
By Byun Duk-kun
TASHKENT, May 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak arrived in
Uzbekistan Sunday on a three-day state visit for a summit with his Uzbek
counterpart and meetings with officials to help increase cooperation between the
two countries.
Lee was welcomed by Uzbek President Islam Karimov who unexpectedly came to greet
him at the airport.
"President Karimov said the reason Korea and his country are so close was because
their cooperation is based on strong trust," Lee Dong-kwan, a spokesman for South
Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, told reporters.
"I, too, expect everything will go well because of such sincerity you have shown
me, and I especially thank you for welcoming me as you would a brother," the
South Korean president was quoted as telling Karimov.
Lee and Karimov are set to hold a summit here Monday.
Lee's visit here comes as part of his two-nation trip to Central Asia, which will
also take him to Kazakhstan Tuesday after a brief stop at Uzbekistan's ancient
city of Samarkand with the Uzbek president.
The trip, Lee's first to the region since his inauguration early last year, aims
to bolster Seoul's energy security as well his diplomatic campaign called the
"New Asia Initiative."
Under the initiative, Seoul aims to play a central role in representing the
interests of Asian nations in the international community. South Korea also plans
to sign free trade agreements with all major economies in the region to help
spearhead efforts to establish a regional network of economic ties.
"President Lee will seek to reinforce our energy and resource diplomacy with the
countries, which have rich reserves of oil and various other mineral resources,
including uranium," Cheong Wa Dae said.
"He will also seek to strengthen cooperation with Central Asia on global issues,
such as climate change and overcoming the economic crisis."
Some 2,000 South Korean businessmen, students and NGO officials are currently in
Uzbekistan, in addition to nearly 180,000 Korean-Uzbek residents, according to
Cheong Wa Dae.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
South Korean and Uzbek presidents, minor changes throughout)
By Byun Duk-kun
TASHKENT, May 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak arrived in
Uzbekistan Sunday on a three-day state visit for a summit with his Uzbek
counterpart and meetings with officials to help increase cooperation between the
two countries.
Lee was welcomed by Uzbek President Islam Karimov who unexpectedly came to greet
him at the airport.
"President Karimov said the reason Korea and his country are so close was because
their cooperation is based on strong trust," Lee Dong-kwan, a spokesman for South
Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, told reporters.
"I, too, expect everything will go well because of such sincerity you have shown
me, and I especially thank you for welcoming me as you would a brother," the
South Korean president was quoted as telling Karimov.
Lee and Karimov are set to hold a summit here Monday.
Lee's visit here comes as part of his two-nation trip to Central Asia, which will
also take him to Kazakhstan Tuesday after a brief stop at Uzbekistan's ancient
city of Samarkand with the Uzbek president.
The trip, Lee's first to the region since his inauguration early last year, aims
to bolster Seoul's energy security as well his diplomatic campaign called the
"New Asia Initiative."
Under the initiative, Seoul aims to play a central role in representing the
interests of Asian nations in the international community. South Korea also plans
to sign free trade agreements with all major economies in the region to help
spearhead efforts to establish a regional network of economic ties.
"President Lee will seek to reinforce our energy and resource diplomacy with the
countries, which have rich reserves of oil and various other mineral resources,
including uranium," Cheong Wa Dae said.
"He will also seek to strengthen cooperation with Central Asia on global issues,
such as climate change and overcoming the economic crisis."
Some 2,000 South Korean businessmen, students and NGO officials are currently in
Uzbekistan, in addition to nearly 180,000 Korean-Uzbek residents, according to
Cheong Wa Dae.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
