President Yoon Suk Yeol (left), who is on a state visit to Kazakhstan, on June 12 speaks at a joint news conference with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev after their bilateral summit at the Akorda Residence, the presidential palace in the capital Astana. (Yonhap News)
By Charles Audouin
Korea and Kazakhstan on June 12 agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in critical minerals, renewable energy and infrastructure.
President Yoon Suk Yeol, who attended a bilateral summit that day with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in the Kazakh capital of Astana, is on a state visit to the Central Asian nation. In a joint news conference after their summit, both leaders said in a joint statement that they agreed to develop their partnerships for the full cycle of exploration, mining and smelting of critical minerals including lithium.
The two sides signed three memorandums of understanding (MOU) on cooperation in supply chains of critical minerals.
President Yoon said, “We agreed to cooperate to allow priority participation by Korean companies in the development of minerals with confirmed economic feasibility.”
Seoul and Astana also pledged to raise cooperation in sectors such as power plants, renewable energy, gas and oil.
President Yoon said, “Our agreement to cooperate is to ensure follow-up success stories in the expansion of Kazakhstan’s energy infrastructure.”
He also asked for President Tokayev’s support so that Korean companies can participate in and contribute to leading national projects there.
The summit also discussed global security.
President Yoon said, “The two countries condemned North Korea’s illegal nuclear and missile development and agreed to keep participating in cooperation with the international community, including efforts to block the North’s illicit fund raising.”
President Tokayev expressed support for President Yoon’s Korea-Central Asia K-Silk Road Initiative and hosting of the Korea-Central Asia Summit.
After the summit, President Yoon at the Korea-Kazakhstan Business Forum emphasized the need for bilateral economic cooperation. There, both sides signed 24 agreements including MOUs and deals on supply chains and development of infrastructure and manufacturing between companies and institutions of the two countries.
caudouin@korea.kr