OREANDA-NEWS. August 29, 2011. President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov and President of South Korea Lee Myung-Bak visited the Independence Square in Tashkent.

President of the Republic of Korea, paying respect to the Uzbek nation, laid a wreath to the Monument of Independence and Humanism, which is a symbol of freedom, bright future and noble aspirations.

Lee Myung-Bak noted that this square was an entire ensemble of magnificent buildings, beautiful avenues and wonderful fountains. The honorary guest emphasized that he was very impressed by the harmony of architecture of the buildings and the unique natural landscape here.
On the same day, a ceremony devoted to the implementation of the largest project in Uzbek-South Korean investment cooperation – the launch of construction of the Ustyurt Gas Chemical Complex at Surgil deposit – was held at the Uzexpocenter.

President Islam Karimov noted that the start of this ambitious project was an important historical event, and its launch on the eve of the 20th anniversary of independence of Uzbekistan enhanced its importance.

Lee Myung-Bak said Ustyurt complex was the largest joint project of Uzbekistan and South Korea, and that large South Korean companies were involved in engineering, supply of equipment and construction works.

With the launch of the complex, it will produce 400,000 tons of polyethylene and 100,000 tons of polypropylene per year. It will be the CIS’s largest such complex, making Karakalpakstan one of the largest industrial centers of the country. At the same time, the possibility of opening new related industrial enterprises and organization of numerous new jobs will be created in other regions of Uzbekistan.

At the direct video link between the participants of the event in Tashkent and the Surgil field, chairman of the Zhokargy Kenes (Supreme Council) of Karakalpakstan Musa Yerniyazov and president of the Korea Gas Corporation Chu Kang Su removed the veil from the memorial stone set on the place of the future industrial giant.

The stone has the following words carved on it: “The foundation stone of the Ustyurt Gas Chemical Complex at Surgil deposit was laid on the initiative of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov and President of the Republic of Korea Lee Myung-Bak”

There is a deep meaning in the fact that the visit of the President of the Republic of Korea and this historic event coincided with the pre-holiday activities related to the 20th anniversary of Uzbekistan’s independence. This, along with manifestation of the common desire of both countries for mutual cooperation, demonstrates high respect for national and spiritual values of the two states’ people.

The Republic of Korea will never forget the generosity and humanism of the Uzbek people toward the Koreans, who in the middle of the last century by the will of destiny found themselves on the territory of Uzbekistan. Today, they, like all citizens of Uzbekistan, live in peace and harmony, making their worthy contribution to the development and prosperity of the country. The meeting of Lee Myung-Bak with Koreans residing in Uzbekistan, as well as South Korean businessmen working in the country, reaffirmed that the relations between the two nations are based on trust and respect, mutual understanding and friendship.

Speaking about the results of the state visit of Lee Myung-Bak to Uzbekistan, it should be noted that the agreements reached in Tashkent, the signed documents, and the start of the largest project in Surgil – all these vividly illustrate the development of Uzbek-South Korean cooperation, which is based on principles of strategic partnership. There is every reason to believe that this cooperation will continue developing dynamically in the future.