A bilateral summit between Korea and Uzbekistan will take place in Seoul on Feb. 11, Cheong Wa Dae said on Tuesday (Feb. 2).

The summit will be held on the second day of the Uzbek President Islam Karimov''s visit to Seoul. The President, who''s making a state visit to Korea at the invitation of the President, will stay until Feb. 12.

President Karimov''s Seoul visit reciprocates Lee''s visit to Tashkent in May 2009, and is the sixth of its kind by Karimov since the two countries launched diplomatic relations in 1992.

At the summit meeting next Thursday, President Lee and his Uzbek counterpart will discuss a joint developmental project of the Surgil gas field and the modernization of Navoi Airport, also sharing ideas on an array of issues related to agriculture, the environment and culture, in ways to boost their bilateral cooperation.

On the same day, President Karimov will attend a luncheon meeting hosted by Korea''s Prime Minister, meet the National Assembly Speaker and take part in a banquet supper.

On the last day of his stay (Feb. 12), Karimov is scheduled to meet with the Korean Air CEO and the Minister of Strategy and Finance.

The Uzbek President''s visit at this time will further foster the strategic partnership between the two countries and also greatly contribute to the specification and development of the "New Asia Diplomacy" promoted by the Korean government, Cheong Wa Dae explained.