By Lee Jon-young

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is in New York for the 78th High-level Session of the United Nations General Assembly, held his first summit with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the afternoon of September 19.

During the meeting, President Yoon requested Kazakhstan's support for the 2030 Busan World Expo and exchanged views on ways to develop bilateral relations.

President Yoon praised the rapid development of cooperation between the two countries since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992 and expressed his hope to further develop relations with Kazakhstan, a strategic partner and key ally in Central Asia. 

Yoon called for resource-rich Kazakhstan and high-tech South Korea to work together to strengthen cooperation in areas such as economic security and energy, including nuclear power plant construction and supply chains for key minerals. Yoon also called for President Tokayev's support for South Korean companies to participate in Kazakhstan's state-owned projects.

President Yoon also requested support for the smooth operation of Korean companies in Kazakhstan in various sectors, including automobile manufacturing, infrastructure, and construction, and President Tokayev said he would actively support the stable operation of Korean companies.

The two leaders used the meeting as an opportunity to further enhance bilateral exchanges and continue to identify cooperative projects that will benefit both economies.