Yoon Holds Summit with Kyrgyzstan President... Establishing Comprehensive Partnership (Summary)

President Sadyr Japarov's Visit to Korea Until the 4th
Trade, Energy, Climate Change Response, ICT Cooperation
Establishing Momentum for Implementing the 'K-Silk Road Cooperation Initiative'

President Yoon Suk-yeol is shaking hands with Sadyr Japarov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic, and taking a commemorative photo at the Korea-Kyrgyz summit held at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 3rd. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 3rd, President Yoon Suk-yeol held a summit with Sadyr Japarov, the President of Kyrgyzstan, who was making an official visit to South Korea, and established a 'Comprehensive Partnership' between the two countries after 32 years of diplomatic relations.

President Yoon and President Japarov adopted the 'Joint Statement on the Establishment of a Comprehensive Partnership' at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the same day, and the presidential office announced that they agreed to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields such as trade and investment, energy, development cooperation, climate change response, ICT, education, and personnel administration.

President Yoon said, "Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, the Republic of Korea and Kyrgyzstan have developed a close and friendly cooperative relationship," adding, "Today, Korean companies are increasingly active in entering the Kyrgyzstan market, and in line with exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, a direct flight connecting the two capitals was launched for the first time last year."

He continued, "Our government is paying attention to the strategic importance of Central Asia as a bridge connecting Asia and Europe," and emphasized, "In June this year, we announced the Korea-Central Asia K-Silk Road Cooperation Initiative, the first Central Asia-specialized diplomatic strategy of the Republic of Korea, and according to this initiative, we want to make a breakthrough in developing relations with Kyrgyzstan, our important cooperation partner in the Central Asian region."

President Japarov said, "The relationship between Kyrgyzstan and Korea has been formed over many years, and with growing friendship and partnership every year, the two sides are coming together as one," adding, "Through this visit, we will gladly exchange views to further strengthen the traditional friendly relations and deepen mutual cooperation in various fields."

The two countries agreed to prepare a roadmap to systematically develop the comprehensive partnership through the 'Cooperation Program between Ministries of Foreign Affairs' from 2025 to 2026. President Yoon confirmed Kyrgyzstan's support for hosting the first-ever 'Korea-Central Asia Summit' in South Korea next year, aiming to create momentum for implementing the 'Korea-Central Asia K-Silk Road Cooperation Initiative' by strengthening relations with Kyrgyzstan. The K-Silk Road aims to create a new cooperation model by linking Korea's innovative capabilities with Central Asia's abundant resources and development potential.

Next Year, 'Korea-Central Asia Summit' to be Held in South Korea

President Yoon Suk-yeol is holding a Korea-Kyrgyzstan summit with Sadyr Japarov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic, at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 3rd. Photo by Yonhap News

First, the two countries will strengthen the institutional foundation for economic cooperation, expand trade and investment through building public-private networks, and create a favorable environment for Korean companies to enter the market. They plan to expand economic cooperation through signing a government-level 'Trade and Investment Promotion Framework (TIPF) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)' and cooperation documents between trade and investment promotion agencies of both countries.

They will also revise the existing agreement to meet the latest international standards by signing the 'Protocol to Amend the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement.' On the 4th, the 'Korea-Kyrgyzstan Investment Dialogue' will be held at Lotte Hotel in Seoul to support Korean companies in discovering business items and entering the Kyrgyzstan market.

They agreed to strengthen practical cooperation in various fields. Through signing government-level MOUs on cooperation in the energy sector and critical minerals, they will enhance cooperation with Kyrgyzstan, a country rich in water resources and minerals, in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and supply chain sectors.

As Kyrgyzstan is a priority partner country for Korea's Official Development Assistance (ODA), new agreements will establish an institutional foundation to expand concessional aid and cooperate in responding to the climate crisis. They will also create an environment to support Korean companies in securing eco-friendly infrastructure projects such as small hydropower plant construction in Kyrgyzstan.

Through MOUs between Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT and Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Digital Development, cooperation in digital fields such as 5G communication, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT) will be expanded. They also agreed to activate human exchanges between the two countries by strengthening cooperation in education and personnel administration.

10 Government-Level Cooperation Documents Signed

Furthermore, they secured Kyrgyzstan's support for a unified Korean Peninsula based on freedom, peace, and prosperity, and confirmed Kyrgyzstan's support for the Korean government's 'August 15 Unification Doctrine' and 'Bold Initiative.' In particular, the two leaders confirmed that North Korea's complete denuclearization contributes to peace and stability not only on the Korean Peninsula but also globally, and urged North Korea to comply with its obligations under the United Nations (UN) Charter and Security Council resolutions.

Located in Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan established diplomatic relations with South Korea in 1992. This visit by the Kyrgyzstan president is the first in 11 years since 2013, and President Japarov will stay until the 4th.

A presidential office official said, "The two leaders exchanged broad opinions on ways to enhance bilateral cooperation and on regional and international situations, including Russia-North Korea military cooperation," adding, "On the occasion of the Korea-Kyrgyzstan summit, a total of 10 government-level cooperation documents covering various fields were signed in the presence of the two leaders."