During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the Uzbek-Korean relations and other issues representing mutual interest.

Islam Karimov said the relations between Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea were developing in all spheres.

An Sang-soo said his country was interested in expanding relations with Uzbekistan and presented to Islam Karimov the message of the President of South Korea in connection with the 18th independence anniversary of Uzbekistan and 2,200th anniversary of Tashkent.

The two countries are expanding political, economic and humanitarian relations, and are supporting each other’s initiatives on the international arena.

Uzbekistan and South Korea are implementing a number of large joint projects in the economic sphere, UzA reported.

The volume of mutual trade in 2008 made up US$1.567 billion, and the total South Korean investments in Uzbek economy have exceeded US$2 billion.

The Uzbekistan-South Korea friendship society has been making a large contribution to the development of cultural relations.

Various festivals, exhibitions, concerts and other cultural events have become very frequent in the recent years.