Seoul, Republic of Korea
An official welcoming ceremony for the President of Kazakhstan, who arrived in Seoul on a state visit, was held at the residence of the President of the Republic of Korea.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Lee Jae Myung introduced the members of their respective delegations. The Commander of the Guard of Honour delivered a welcoming report, followed by the national anthems of the two countries.
The Head of State signed the Guest Book.
The Presidents then proceeded to the meeting room for talks.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed his sincere gratitude to Lee Jae Myung for the invitation to visit the Republic of Korea.
“The Republic of Korea is a strategic partner of Kazakhstan. Our peoples have long been bound by strong ties of friendship and mutual understanding, as well as close cultural and humanitarian links. There are no contradictions or disagreements between our countries. Our goal is to develop bilateral relations comprehensively. Today, a high-level business forum was held with the participation of a representative delegation of the business community that accompanied me. Promising projects are being implemented in various fields. Our plans are highly ambitious. In particular, we discussed in detail the further development of the Alatau City project. This is indeed a very important project to which we attach great significance. Provisions concerning the status of this city have been incorporated into the Constitution. Korean companies will be provided with all legal guarantees. More than 120,000 ethnic Koreans live in Kazakhstan. All necessary conditions have been created for them; they are active members of our society,” the President said.
The Head of State also spoke about the legacy of Korean General Hong Beom-do.
“I am well familiar with the history of General Hong Beom-do. He was a true hero and patriot. It can be stated with full confidence that preserving his memory has been a manifestation of mutual wisdom. It is remarkable that even more than a century later, the Korean people continue to remember their general. Paying tribute to his memory, we returned his remains to his homeland, thereby fulfilling our civic duty,” Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted.
The President spoke highly of the current state and prospects of cooperation between the two countries in various areas.
“As for bilateral relations, during this visit, commercial agreements worth 19 billion US dollars were signed. We are satisfied with our cooperation with Korean investors and are ready to continue working with them. There are promising plans for the construction of hotels, an oil refinery, and urban development projects. Particular attention is being paid to strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties,” the Head of State said.
The President of the Republic of Korea warmly welcomed the Head of Kazakhstan and noted the special significance of his visit to Seoul.
“We thank you for your decision to return the remains of General Hong Beom-do, who played a special role in the history of Korea and in defending the Korean people in difficult times. At the time, ethnic Koreans in Kazakhstan were warmly received. We are grateful to you and to the entire Kazakh people for this,” Lee Jae Myung emphasized.
During the meeting, the two sides expressed their readiness to cooperate on a long-term basis and to provide mutual comprehensive support whenever necessary.
Following the meeting, the leaders of the two states reaffirmed their determination to strengthen the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and the Republic of Korea, giving it new practical substance.
