SEOUL, June 17. /Dunyo IA/. The leading South Korean newspaper “The Korea Herald” has published an article dedicated to the outcomes of the Uzbek–South Korean Business Forum, which was held within the framework of the 5^th Tashkent International Investment Forum, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The article, headlined “Tashkent Forum Marks the Beginning of a New Era in Relations Between Korea and Uzbekistan”, notes that bilateral cooperation is expanding beyond conventional trade and industrial manufacturing to encompass domains of global significance, such as strategic minerals, transport corridors, digital technologies, and smart city projects.

The publication underscores that under the current geopolitical circumstances, as global supply chains undergo a profound transformation, securing raw material safety and diversifying sustainable manufacturing bases acquire paramount importance for South Korea. In this context, Uzbekistan, possessing a market of nearly 38 million people, young and skilled labour resources, alongside a consistently implemented reform agenda, is becoming the most reliable strategic partner of the Republic of Korea in Central Asia.

In his address to the forum participants, the President of South Korea, Lee Jae-myung, noted that resource security is inextricably linked with the future competitiveness and development of states. This demonstrates that Seoul views Central Asia not merely as a promising market, but as a vital pillar of its own economic security.

In conclusion, it is noted that the relations between South Korea and Uzbekistan, anchored in long-standing mutual trust and the status of Special Strategic Partnership, are ascending to a qualitatively new level. According to the author, the “Republic of Korea – Central Asia” summit scheduled to take place in Seoul at the end of this year will serve as a vital political platform for translating the current business interest into large-scale, long-term strategic projects.