President Lee Holds Successive Summits with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; 35 Agreements and MOUs Signed

[Financial News] President Lee Jae Myung held successive meetings with the leaders of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan on the 16th, seeking to expand practical cooperation in critical-mineral supply chains, railway and transport infrastructure, trade, and investment. The two countries signed a total of 35 agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOUs), broadening the foundation for Korean companies to enter Central Asian markets. The meetings concluded bilateral summit diplomacy with all five Central Asian countries ahead of the first Korea–Central Asia Summit held that afternoon.
President Lee held a summit at Cheong Wa Dae that morning with Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon, who was on an official visit to the Republic of Korea. The two countries upgraded their relationship to a “comprehensive partnership” for the first time, Cheong Wa Dae Senior Secretary for Public Relations and Communications Sung Ki-hong said in a written briefing.
The two leaders agreed to expand bilateral ties, which had previously centered on development cooperation, into trade and investment, railway and transport infrastructure, critical minerals, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation, and climate-change response.
In particular, they agreed to strengthen cooperation by linking Tajikistan’s demand for expanded transport networks as a mountainous landlocked country with Korea’s railway technology. On the occasion of the summit, the two sides signed an MOU on railways and will pursue cooperation in railway policy, the sharing of technology and experience, and the training of specialists.
Cooperation on critical-mineral supply chains was also a key agenda item. The two countries agreed to identify joint projects by combining Tajikistan’s abundant mineral resources, including antimony, with Korea’s expertise in exploration and development technologies.
They will also establish a support system to help Korean companies enter the local market. Cooperation between the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) and Tajikistan’s Export Agency will be expanded, and a Korea Desk will be established to handle difficulties faced by Korean companies operating there. A total of 17 agreements and MOUs were signed on railways and transport, trade, customs and intellectual property, digital technology and smart grids, and forest restoration.
Lee then held a summit with Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov and agreed to further develop the two countries’ comprehensive partnership.
The two leaders agreed to expand cooperation into trade and investment, critical minerals, urban development and infrastructure, food security, AI, and climate and environmental issues.
In particular, they agreed to support Korean companies’ entry into the local market by opening a KOTRA trade office in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, and establishing a Korea Desk at the National Investment Agency under the president.
They will also pursue measures to expand the entry of K-food and K-beauty products into the Kyrgyz and broader Central Asian markets through mutual recognition of halal certification. The two sides agreed to broaden the foundation for cooperation in infrastructure, including urban planning, public-private partnership (PPP) projects, and smart grids.
In the critical-minerals sector, they will seek new projects that leverage the complementary strengths of the two countries. They also agreed to strengthen cooperation in future industries, including public safety and disaster response and AI.
A total of 18 agreements and MOUs were signed on the occasion of the Korea–Kyrgyzstan summit.
The two leaders also discussed issues concerning the Korean Peninsula. President Rahmon expressed support for resolving those issues through peaceful means, including dialogue, while President Japarov also emphasized peace and prosperity in the region through dialogue.
Beginning with Uzbekistan on the 14th, President Lee completed bilateral summits with the leaders of all five Central Asian countries, continuing through Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan and concluding with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan on the 16th. Through this summit diplomacy, Cheong Wa Dae and the government aim to link Central Asia’s critical minerals and energy resources with Korea’s technological capabilities and expand the foundation for Korean companies to enter local markets.
[email protected] Choi Jong-geun Reporter