President Lee Jae Myung on July 23 holds a phone conversation with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the Office of the President in Seoul. (Office of the President)

By Kim Hyelin 

President Lee Jae Myung on July 23 held his first phone conversations with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on expanding cooperation, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing.

President Lee first held talks with President Tokayev, pledging to bolster bilateral cooperation since the formation of a strategic partnership in 2009 and thanking Kazakh support for the return of the remains of Korean independence hero Gen. Hong Beom-do (1868-1943).

Taking advantage of the launch of the Lee administration, President Tokayev proposed working together to not only enhance bilateral cooperation but also that between Korea and Central Asia.

Both leaders pledged to expand cooperation to strategic sectors such as infrastructure and core minerals in addition to trade and investment. Based on their talks, President Lee urged Kazakh interest in and support for Korean companies seeking to enter the Central Asian country.

In his following talks with Sweden, President Lee proposed further development of friendly ties that began in 1959.

Prime Minister Kristersson answered by saying he hoped that the inauguration of the Lee administration will lead to the resumption of high-level exchanges and closer bilateral communication.

Citing the high potential of bilateral economic cooperation, the two sides agreed to collaborate in sectors including defense and national security, supply chains and culture.

President Lee also praised Sweden's contribution to raising peace on the Korean Peninsula as a member of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission. Both leaders pledged to work closely together in related issues.

kimhyelin211@korea.kr