Seoul: President Yoon Suk Yeol and Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov have reached an agreement to enhance bilateral relations, focusing on cooperation in energy and critical minerals, during their summit meeting, as announced by Yoon’s office. The summit marked a significant step in the diplomatic relationship between South Korea and Kyrgyzstan since the establishment of ties in 1992.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the two nations established a comprehensive strategic partnership aimed at boosting collaboration in various sectors, including trade, investment, energy, supply chains, development, and climate change. This agreement was formalized through a joint declaration, with Japarov visiting South Korea officially. Key aspects of the collaboration include a memorandum of understanding on energy and critical minerals, emphasizing renewable energy projects and natural resource supply chains.
Additional agreements were signed to facilitate joint efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with a focus
on projects near 10 small hydropower plants in Kyrgyzstan. Both countries also committed to working on eco-friendly resource development, refining technologies, and information exchange. As a nation rich in water resources and mineral deposits, including antimony, Kyrgyzstan is recognized as a strategic partner for South Korea’s advanced manufacturing industries.
The South Korean finance ministry has also signed a framework agreement to provide US$500 million in low-interest, long-term Economic Development Cooperation Fund loans to Kyrgyzstan, scheduled from 2025 to 2029. Further, a memorandum of understanding on the Trade and Investment Promotion Framework was signed to strengthen economic ties in supply chains, digital technologies, and biotechnology.
This summit is the latest in a series of diplomatic engagements by President Yoon with Central Asian nations, following meetings with Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan earlier in the year. Discussions in these meetings have centered on economic partne
rships and mineral resource cooperation.
During the talks, President Japarov expressed his strong support for President Yoon’s initiative to host the first summit of five Central Asian nations, including Tajikistan, in South Korea next year. Japarov pledged to work closely with Yoon to ensure its success. Additionally, Kyrgyzstan reaffirmed its support for North Korea’s denuclearization and Yoon’s unification doctrine, which envisions a free and prosperous Korean Peninsula, as noted in the joint declaration.