▲ President Lee Jae-myung and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon pose for a commemorative photo ahead of their summit at Cheong Wa Dae on September 16.
President Lee Jae-myung held consecutive bilateral summits today (September 16) at Cheong Wa Dae with President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan and President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan.
During the meetings, President Lee expressed his intention to strengthen cooperation based on the critical mineral resources held by the Central Asian nations and South Korea's technological capabilities.
First, in his summit with President Rahmon, President Lee said, "Our two countries have steadily developed cooperation since 1992, and I am pleased that we are establishing a comprehensive partnership on the occasion of this summit." He added, "Going forward, I hope our two nations will expand mutually beneficial cooperation in sectors such as railways, critical minerals, and digital technology."
President Lee pledged, "To the Korean people, Tajikistan is recognized as a nation home to the Pamir Mountains, which boast magnificent scenery often called the 'Roof of the World.' As a reliable partner, South Korea will actively cooperate in Tajikistan's economic development."
President Rahmon responded, "Strengthening cooperative relations with South Korea is one of the key priorities of Tajikistan's policy. Establishing legal and institutional foundations to elevate cooperation between the two countries to the level of a partnership is an essential measure."
To President Japarov, President Lee said, "Our two nations are dependable partners that have advanced cooperation across various fields. In today's talks, I look forward to in-depth discussions to expand mutually beneficial cooperation ranging from infrastructure development, public administration, public safety, and disaster response to food security, climate and environment, culture, and education."
In particular, recalling President Japarov's visit to South Korea in December 2024 during the emergency martial law crisis, President Lee explained, "At that time, there were disruptions, including an early return home due to South Korea's political situation," adding, "Although our country experienced temporary turmoil, we regained calm through the aspiration and courage of our people for democracy and freedom."
He also requested, "Thank you for always showing unwavering support for peace on the Korean Peninsula. I ask Kyrgyzstan to continue to be a dependable partner on the journey toward building a peaceful and prosperous Korean Peninsula."
President Japarov projected, "We consider the Republic of Korea to be one of our primary partners in the Asia-Pacific region. There are no major political disagreements between our two nations, and we share similar positions on international and regional relations. Moving forward, we will be able to expand substantive cooperation in new fields as well."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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