South Korean President Lee Jae-myung met with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on September 16 to discuss expanding economic cooperation between the two countries in areas such as urban and infrastructure development, critical minerals, and digital transformation.
During the summit, the two nations signed 18 agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) covering customs agreements, trade and investment, smart grids, employment, disaster response, and cultural exchanges.
This meeting aimed to translate the 'comprehensive partnership' established in 2024 into concrete projects and business outcomes. The plan is to combine South Korea's urban development experience and smart construction technology with Kyrgyzstan's rapid economic growth and urbanization needs, while also expanding cooperation in critical minerals and digital energy sectors.
In his opening remarks at the summit, President Lee expressed his pleasure at meeting President Japarov in person, recalling their first phone call in August of the previous year. He welcomed Japarov back to South Korea, noting that during Japarov's last visit in December 2024, he had to cut his trip short due to domestic political circumstances in South Korea.
Lee acknowledged the brief period of turmoil in South Korea but emphasized the resilience and aspirations of the Korean people for democracy and freedom, which have restored stability. He expressed hope for a successful meeting with Japarov, given the unexpected disruptions during the last visit.
Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1992, South Korea and Kyrgyzstan have developed cooperation across various fields, with Kyrgyzstan being the second-largest trading partner for South Korea in Central Asia. The opening of direct flights three years ago has led to a nearly 50% increase in people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
President Lee expressed optimism for further enhancing exchanges based on the rich potential for cooperation between the two nations. He highlighted the importance of in-depth discussions on mutual cooperation in areas such as infrastructure development, public administration, security, disaster response, food security, climate and environment, and cultural trade.
The two countries agreed to collaborate on urban planning and master plan development, as well as the design and construction of transportation and living infrastructure and the introduction of smart construction technology. This partnership aims to share South Korea's urban development experience while providing a foundation for domestic companies to participate in Kyrgyzstan's urban and infrastructure projects.
The Korea Overseas Infrastructure and Urban Development Corporation and the Kyrgyz Public-Private Partnership Center will share information on local PPP projects and jointly identify promising initiatives. KOTRA and the Kyrgyz National Investment Agency will expand investment and technology cooperation, including renewable energy and eco-friendly technologies, to support local entry for South Korean companies.
In the trade and investment cooperation sector, new areas such as critical minerals, digital transformation, halal certification, and the textile industry have been included, broadening the scope of cooperation beyond traditional industries to supply chains and future growth sectors. The implementation system will also be enhanced through business support and a trade and investment cooperation committee.
The mutual recognition of halal certification is seen as a tangible market entry achievement for domestic companies. The Korea Testing Certification (KTC) will have its halal certification recognized in Kyrgyzstan, reducing the administrative burden, time, and costs for domestic companies needing local certification.
In the customs sector, the two countries agreed to share information on tax prices, origin verification, and reasons for customs delays or denials. This institutional mechanism aims to jointly address transnational crimes such as illegal trade of sensitive goods and smuggling while reducing uncertainties in customs for normal trade. Cooperation in intellectual property protection and administrative digitization will also support the stable operations of South Korean companies in Kyrgyzstan.
In the energy sector, cooperation on smart grids utilizing remote metering infrastructure and energy storage systems will be pursued. This initiative opens avenues for South Korean technology and companies to participate in reducing power losses and digitizing the power grid in Kyrgyzstan.
In agriculture and livestock, the Kyrgyz National Investment Fund will allocate $1 million to promote cooperation aimed at enhancing livestock productivity and sustainability. This initiative seeks to broaden the foundation for South Korean companies to enter the agriculture and livestock sectors.
The MOU on the labor dispatch and employment permit system was also renewed. It will ensure that personnel who pass objective procedures, such as the Korean language proficiency test, are supplied to domestic small and medium-sized enterprises, while managing dispatch costs and the selection and entry procedures for job seekers transparently to protect workers' rights.
Additionally, the two countries will pursue the development of disaster early warning and alert systems, forest restoration using agricultural and forestry satellites and information communication technology, and exchanges between police training institutions. Seoul and Bishkek will establish friendly and cooperative relations focusing on urban administration, AI, smart cities, and digital transformation.
President Lee also congratulated President Japarov on Kyrgyzstan's upcoming role as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council starting next year.
In response, President Japarov stated, "The Kyrgyz Republic considers the Republic of Korea one of its key partners in Asia and values strengthening cooperation in various fields." He also noted that the agreements made during his last visit in 2024 are yielding concrete results and invited President Lee to make an official visit to Kyrgyzstan next year to mark the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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