Lee Meets Uzbek Senate Chair, Urges Legislative Support for Summit Agreements on Critical Minerals, AI

President Lee Meets Uzbekistan Senate Chairperson Narbaeva at Cheong Wa Dae

Calls for Tangible Results from Economic Cooperation

Proposes Cooperation on Building a Koryoin History Museum

President Lee Jae-myung met with the chairperson of Uzbekistan's Senate on the 9th and called for legislative support from both countries' parliaments to ensure that agreements on economic cooperation between the two countries' leaders produce tangible results. The aim is to flesh out cooperation in critical mineral supply chains, artificial intelligence (AI), and transportation and logistics, as agreed at the summit in September, and to generate economic benefits that people in both countries can feel.

President Lee Jae-myung delivers commemorative remarks at a ceremony marking the 64th Firefighting Day in Sejong Special Self-Governing City on Nov. 9, 2026. Yonhap News.

Presidential spokesperson Kim Seong-wan said in a written briefing that President Lee received Tanzila Narbaeva, chairperson of Uzbekistan's Senate, who is on an official visit to Korea, at Cheong Wa Dae and discussed ways to expand strategic cooperation between the two countries. Narbaeva is Uzbekistan's first female Senate chairperson and chairs the Korea-Uzbekistan Committee for Monitoring Practical Cooperation, which reviews the implementation of joint cooperation projects.

President Lee said, "Following two exchanges between our leaders last year, the special strategic partnership between our countries has developed further this year, thanks to the first Korea-Central Asia Summit in September and the state visit to Korea by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev." He also expressed satisfaction that, building on the trust developed by the two governments, mutually beneficial economic cooperation and exchanges between the people of both countries are expanding.

President Lee stressed the importance of turning the agreements reached at the summit in September into concrete results. He asked Chairperson Narbaeva for legislative support and for Uzbekistan's parliament to play an active role in ensuring the agreements are fully implemented.

At their summit on September 14, President Lee and President Mirziyoyev agreed to expand cooperation in future industries, including critical mineral supply chains, transportation and logistics infrastructure, and AI and digital transformation. The two countries signed and exchanged 13 cooperation documents, including agreements on supply chain cooperation encompassing the exploration, development, and processing of rare metals, as well as infrastructure projects such as high-speed rail.

Chairperson Narbaeva conveyed President Mirziyoyev's greetings and expressed her gratitude for the warm welcome from the Korean government and National Assembly. She agreed that the state visit to Korea in September had helped deepen cooperation between the two countries and said she would actively contribute to developing bilateral relations through interparliamentary cooperation.

The meeting also covered ways to strengthen the historical ties between the two countries. President Lee proposed, "As we mark the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Uzbekistan and the 90th anniversary of the settlement of ethnic Koreans in Central Asia next year, let us pursue projects commemorating our shared historical and cultural heritage, such as the construction of a 'Koryoin History Museum,' and expand people-to-people exchanges." The Koryoin History Museum is a joint project the two countries are pursuing as part of the commemorative events marking the 90th anniversary of the settlement of ethnic Koreans in Central Asia.

Chairperson Narbaeva said, "Uzbekistan's parliament will spare no effort in actively supporting initiatives to strengthen the ties between our two countries." Spokesperson Kim said President Lee concluded the meeting by asking her to convey his warm regards to President Mirziyoyev.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.