Key facts
- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met on Monday, September 14, 2026.
- Lee expressed hope for deeper bilateral strategic partnership with Uzbekistan.
- Uzbekistan is South Korea's only Central Asian nation with which it has a special strategic partnership.
- Areas for expanded cooperation include traffic, infrastructure, healthcare, critical minerals, AI, and defense.
- Mirziyoyev stated Uzbekistan supports Seoul's efforts for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held summit talks in Seoul on Monday, September 14, 2026, expressing a desire to further deepen their bilateral strategic partnership for mutual prosperity. The meeting occurred just before Seoul hosts the inaugural South Korea-Central Asia Summit, which will include leaders from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
President Lee highlighted the strong cooperative ties established since diplomatic relations began in 1992, emphasizing Uzbekistan's unique status as South Korea's special strategic partner in Central Asia. He referred to Uzbekistan as a "precious friend and a key partner" and expressed hope for the partnership to develop further toward mutual prosperity and peace.
Potential areas for expanded cooperation identified by Lee include traffic, infrastructure, healthcare, critical mineral supply chains, artificial intelligence, and the defense industry. He also noted the importance of bilateral cooperation in addressing global security uncertainties and contributing to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.