Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Sodyq Safayev will pay an official visit to South Korea on 12-14 December, Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry said.

The ministry said in its release that the visit is organized on invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ban Ki-moon.

During the visit, Uzbek minister will hold talks with his Korean counterpart Ban Ki-moon on 13 December and discuss various issues of mutual interest, including ways to further promote substantial cooperation.

Uzbek official will also meet Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and Speaker of the National Assembly, Kim Won-ki.

Minister Safayev is the first Uzbek foreign minister to pay an individual visit to South Korea since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 1992.

The visit is expected to contribute to strengthening of bilateral exchanges and cooperation as well as the promotion of substantial cooperation between the two countries, the Korean ministry said.