President Moon Jae-in held an official welcoming ceremony at Cheong Wa Dae for Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev who is making the first state visit to Korea marking the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and Uzbekistan.

At 2:00 this afternoon, President Moon and First Lady Kim Jung-sook joined the welcoming delegation of children waiting in front of the main building of Cheong Wa Dae for the arrival of the Uzbek First Couple. Upon their arrival, the Uzbek President and First Lady exchanged greetings with President Moon and First Lady Kim by shaking hands while the children hailed them waving the national flags of the two countries. The two First Couples thanked the children, shook their hands, hugged them and posed together with them for a commemorative photo.

Afterwards, the two First Couples walked through the traditional honor guard lining both sides of the passage in front of the gate of the main building of Cheong Wa Dae and moved to the platform in the grand garden. As the commander of the honor guard saluted the First Couples, the military band played the national anthems of Uzbekistan and Korea. Then, the First Couples reviewed a military honor guard and greeted the entourage of both nations.  

The welcoming delegation from the Korean side that was lined up at the garden to greet President Mirziyoyev and his wife included Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Kim Dong-yeon; Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-hwa; Director of National Security Chung Eui-yong; Chief of Staff for Policy to the President Jang Hasung; Chief of Presidential Security Service Ju Young-hoon; Chairman of the Presidential Committee of Northern Economic Cooperation Song Young-gil; Second Deputy Director of National Security Nam Gwan-pyo; Korean Ambassador to Uzbekistan Kwon Yong-woo; Senior Secretary to the President for Economic Affairs Hong Jang-pyo; and Senior Secretary to the President for Public Communication Yoon Young-chan.