President Moon Jae-in is now in Uzbekistan as he continues his first tour of Central Asia as South Korean leader.<br />Our Shin Se-min, who is traveling with the president, reports from Tashkent. <br />The Uzbek capital of Tashkent is stop two of three on President Moon Jae-in’s first ever tour of Central Asia.<br />During a four-day state visit consisting of summit meetings with his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev… the presidents are likely to focus on ways to upgrade their level of political and economic ties.<br />They will also discuss ways to expand the two side's practical cooperation in the areas of ICT, medical and defense technology.<br />Uzbekistan is seen as a profitable market for South Korea -- given the country’s economy has been logging a steady 5-percent level of annual growth over the past three years.<br />In particular,.. the two countries' healthcare-related ties are at a level not seen with Seoul’s other partner nations.<br />In fact they are so crucial that the president’s first schedule upon his arrival in Tashkent was to visit a university demonstrating a joint remote-medical consultation by doctors from the two countries.<br />"E-health is one of the most prominent industries of the future. I hope our two countries become strategic partners as we move deeper into the fourth industrial revolution."<br />South Korea’s technological know-how such as 5G networks and AI should help Uzbekistan’s medical sector, which is hampered by the country’s vast size and unique geographical features.<br />During his stay, President Moon will also address members of Uzbekistan’s parliament-- a first for a visiting South Korean leader. <br />His trip will also take him to Samarkand,… one of the oldest inhabited cities in Central Asia, before wrapping up his stay in the country.<br />"South Korean leader’s visit comes two years after the Uzbek’s president visited Seoul. And expectations for the talks are high as Uzbekistan is seen as a base to President Moon’s New Northern Policy and is also the most populated Central Asian nation.<br />Shin Se-min, Arirang News, Tashkent."<br />
