Kazakh, South Korean presidents reaffirm intention to take ties to ‘new level’

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and his visiting South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk-yeol on Wednesday reaffirmed their intention to take bilateral ties to a “new level” amid talks in the capital Astana.

“Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Yoon Suk-yeol reaffirmed their intention to take relations between the two countries to a new level within the framework of an expanded strategic partnership,” said a statement by the Kazakh presidency following a meeting between the two heads of state in a narrow format.

Expressing that Yoon’s visit to Kazakhstan is of great importance for both sides, Tokayev was quoted as saying that South Korea is a reliable strategic partner for Astana and that relations between the two countries have “deep roots.”

“Today, the volume of bilateral trade turnover has reached $6 billion. Of course, this is the result of joint efforts. We have implemented large-scale economic projects, and our investment cooperation is expanding every year. Currently, there are more than 700 joint ventures with the participation of Korean capital operating in Kazakhstan,” Tokayev said.

He further said that they are interested in further expanding multifaceted interaction between Kazakhstan and South Korea, and bringing bilateral relations to a “qualitatively new level.”

“I am confident that your visit will give additional impetus to the development of bilateral cooperation,” he said, adding that Kazakhstan and South Korea can contribute to settling geopolitical contradictions as the two countries have similar positions on many international issues.

For his part, Yoon underlined that his visit to Kazakhstan came on the eve of the 15th anniversary of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

“Many Korean companies are investing in Kazakhstan, thus contributing to job creation and industrial development … We intend to expand cooperation in such promising areas as the extraction of critical raw materials, nuclear energy and renewable energy sources,” Yoon further said.

He also said that the South Korean government announced the South Korea-Central Asia K-Silk Road initiative ahead of the visit, defining it as Seoul’s first diplomatic strategy toward Central Asia.

The two leaders also held talks in an expanded format.

Yoon arrived in Kazakhstan on Tuesday as part of the second leg of his six-day Central Asia tour that began on Monday in Turkmenistan. He will also head to neighboring Uzbekistan to hold talks with Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev.