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President Lee Jae-myung and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov pose for a commemorative photograph ahead of their bilateral summit at Cheong Wa Dae on the 16th. / Yonhap News

President Lee Jae-myung held a summit with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on the 16th to discuss ways to expand bilateral cooperation in urban planning, infrastructure, critical minerals, and digital technologies. Taking the summit as an opportunity, the two nations signed 18 bilateral cooperation agreements, broadening the foundation for partnership in trade, investment, and future growth sectors.

Meeting President Japarov at Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday morning, President Lee stated, "Given the unexpected disruption during your previous visit, I have truly looked forward to the day I could meet you here in Korea."

President Japarov had previously held a summit with then-President Yoon Suk-yeol on December 3, 2024, but returned home after canceling his scheduled itinerary for the following day when emergency martial law was declared that evening.

In response, President Lee said, "Our country experienced a temporary period of turmoil, but thanks to the aspirations and courage of our people toward democracy and freedom, we have regained this tranquility."

President Lee also expressed high hopes for expanding people-to-people and economic exchanges between the two nations. "Kyrgyzstan is South Korea's second-largest trading partner in Central Asia," President Lee noted. "Since a direct flight route connecting our two countries was established three years ago, people-to-people exchanges have increased by nearly 50%."

He subsequently proposed discussions to expand mutually beneficial cooperation across infrastructure development, public administration, public safety, disaster management, food security, climate and environment, as well as culture and trade.

Calling South Korea one of Kyrgyzstan's key Asian partners, President Japarov cordially invited President Lee to make an official visit to Kyrgyzstan next year, marking the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Taking the bilateral summit as an occasion, the two countries concluded a total of 18 cooperation documents, comprising one formal agreement and 17 memorandums of understanding (MOUs). Under the agreements, both sides will share South Korea's experience and technology in urban planning and infrastructure development to lay the groundwork for joint projects.

Economic cooperation will also broaden into future growth sectors, including critical minerals, digital transformation, halal certification, and the textile industry. An existing MOU on trade and investment cooperation was revised to incorporate these new areas as target fields of collaboration.

Additional initiatives will link local Korean-speaking talent in Kyrgyzstan with South Korean small and medium-sized enterprises, alongside joint programs in livestock technology. The two sides also agreed to expand cooperation in customs administration to counter transnational crimes such as tax evasion and smuggling, while deepening exchanges in disaster management, culture, and sports.

                                                                                                        Park Young-hoon