Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-Ahn left Korea on Thursday to visit Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, his office said, in a move aimed at forging closer ties with his counterparts and finding new business opportunities for local companies.

During his trip, Hwang will hold a meeting with Uzbek President Islam Karimov, as well as the country's Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev. He will also hold talks with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to discuss ways to expand ties in energy, construction and plant industries.

Policy watchers said his visit to Saudi Arabia is in line with Korea's efforts to maintain balance in the Middle East, especially as President Park Geun-hye recently visited Iran to expand diplomatic ties.

On the last leg of his trip, Hwang will visit Turkey to join the World Humanitarian Summit, where Korea will exchange ideas on human rights issues with other countries.

Hwang also plans to hold a meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Turkey to discuss various issues at home and abroad. He will return to South Korea on Tuesday. (Yonhap)