Policies

Jun 12, 2024

President Yoon Suk Yeol (seventh from left on stage's second row) and first lady Kim Keon Hee on June 11 pose for photos with members of an ethnic Korean dance troupe at a meeting with Goryeoin, or ethnic Koreans in Central Asia, at a hotel in Astana, Kazakhstan. (Yonhap News)

President Yoon Suk Yeol (seventh from left on stage's second row) and first lady Kim Keon Hee on June 11 pose for photos with members of an ethnic Korean dance troupe at a meeting with Goryeoin, or ethnic Koreans in Central Asia, at a hotel in Astana, Kazakhstan. (Yonhap News)


By Xu Aiying

President Yoon Suk Yeol on June 11 said, "To achieve our goal of becoming a global pivotal state, Central Asia including Kazakhstan is an essential and crucial cooperative partner."


On a state visit to Kazakhstan, he made this comment at an invitational event with Goryeoin, or ethnic Koreans in Central Asia, at a hotel in the Kazakh capital of Astana.


"Before embarking on this trip, I announced the Korea-Central Asia K-Silk Road Initiative," President Yoon said. "At my summit with (Kazakh) President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev tomorrow, I will discuss specific cooperation measures to advance our bilateral strategic partnership based on this initiative."


Praising Goryeoin for their toil and sweat that greatly advanced bilateral cooperation, President Yoon pledged to bolster solidarity among members of the global Korean diaspora, including between such groups in Central Asia and the motherland, and actively support the development of such communities.


"We will boost communication among Goryeoin groups both in Central Asia and Korea and actively back the formation of a network between Goryeoin companies in Kazakhstan and small and medium enterprises in Korea," he said. "We will also expand invitational training in the motherland for the next generation of Goryeoin."


"Central Asia's significance in geopolitics and geoeconomics is growing," he added. "We ask for our brethren's help so that Korea and Central Asia can keep working together in energy, minerals, infrastructure, and digital cultural cooperation."


xuaiy@korea.kr