South Korean prime minister and Kyrgyz president discuss expanding trade and tech ties
Prime Minister Han Seong-sook met President Sadyr Japarov in Seoul, exploring ways to deepen economic cooperation between South Korea and Kyrgyzstan.
At the first South Korea-Central Asia Summit in Seoul, Prime Minister Han Seong-sook held talks with President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan. Han emphasized a vision of mutually beneficial partnership that would combine Kyrgyz mineral resources with South Korea's technological expertise. Japarov noted Kyrgyzstan's economy has been expanding at an annual rate of at least 9 percent over the past five years and 12 percent in the first half of this year, and he called for increased foreign investment and modern manufacturing infrastructure.
He described South Korea as a key partner and voiced a desire for South Korean firms to operate in Kyrgyzstan on a more sustainable basis, prioritising industrial cooperation, joint production plants, and localisation of output. Han also congratulated Kyrgyzstan on its recent election to a non-permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council.
Why it matters
The talks could boost trade, investment and technology transfer between South Korea and a fast-growing Central Asian economy.
How this story developed
- Sep 8 Xi and Putin send congratulatory letters to Kim, pledging deeper ties on North Korea's anniversary
- Sep 10 President Vladimir Putin sent a congratulatory message pledging deeper ties with North Korea.
- Sep 11 President Lee Jae-myung announced that the Korea-Central Asia summit on the 16th will solidify multilateral cooperation and give new momentum to South Korea’s New Northern Policy.
- Sep 11 North Korea launched an unidentified projectile toward the sea east of the Korean Peninsula, according to South Korean defence officials.
- Sep 12 South Korea held an emergency security meeting in response to the missile launch.
- Sep 13 North Korea staged a firepower strike drill featuring missiles and drones.
- Sep 15 EU official Cosmin Dobran warned the North Korea‑Russia partnership will likely outlast the Ukraine war.
- Sep 16 The Seoul Declaration formalizes a 30‑year agenda linking Central Asian mineral resources with South Korean AI and energy projects.
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