President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has arrived in Seoul on a state visit. During the trip, the Head of State presented state awards to Korean figures.
HOW THE VISIT BEGAN
The President of Kazakhstan was met at Seoul Airport by the Deputy Prime Minister — Minister of Science and Information and Communication Technologies of the Republic of Korea Bae Kyung-hoon.
One of the events of the visit was the ceremony of awarding state and public figures of the Republic of Korea with the Order of Dostyk.
WHY KAZAKHSTAN CONSIDERS KOREA A STRATEGIC PARTNER
At the ceremony, Tokayev stated that Kazakhstan and the Republic of Korea are bound by mutual respect and common interests. The President noted that five years ago the countries adopted a Declaration on Expanded Strategic Partnership.
According to the Head of State, a close political dialogue has been established between Kazakhstan and Korea, and trade and economic relations continue to develop. The countries are implementing projects in mechanical engineering, energy, metallurgy and advanced technologies, and Korean companies are operating in Kazakhstan.
WHAT ROLE THE KOREAN COMMUNITY OF KAZAKHSTAN PLAYS
Tokayev separately focused on the role of representatives of the Korean people in Kazakhstan. According to his data, more than 100,000 Koreans live in the country.
The President noted their contribution to the economic and socio-political development of Kazakhstan. Korean cultural centres operate in the country, as well as the Academic Korean Theatre in Almaty, a newspaper in the Korean language is published and a special radio programme is broadcast.
The Head of State stated that strengthening the friendship between Kazakhstan and Korea serves the common interests of the two peoples. He called the presentation of state awards a sign of respect and recognition on the part of the Kazakh people.
WHOM TOKAYEV AWARDED IN SEOUL
The Order of Dostyk, II degree, was awarded to members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea of the 22nd convocation Maeng Sung-kyu and Lee Jae-kang, President of Seoul Cyber University Lee Sang-gyun, Professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and Director of the Institute of Central Asian Studies Song Yong-hoon, as well as Director of the multidisciplinary clinic Hyundae General Hospital Kim Bu-sop.
The President separately noted Song Yong-hoon, who has been teaching the Kazakh language for more than 20 years and introducing the Korean audience to Kazakhstan and its culture.
WITH WHOM TOKAYEV DISCUSSED THE CLIMATE AGENDA
The President also held a meeting with Ban Ki-moon, the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) and Chairman of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI).
Tokayev noted the importance of the GGGI's activities aimed at supporting developing countries in their transition to a green growth model. According to the President, such an approach is linked to social stability, resilience to climate change and economic development.
Ban Ki-moon welcomed Kazakhstan's achievements in the field of sustainable development and stated his readiness for further co-operation within the framework of the global climate agenda.
