Kazakhstan, Astana, March 26 / Trend D.Mukhtarov /
Leader of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev and South Korea president Lee Myung-bak have discussed a wide range of bilateral cooperation topics, the AkOrda press service said on Monday.
"President Nursultan Nazarbayev said that Kazakhstan and South Korea have reached a level of strategic partnership," a statement on the website of President of Kazakhstan said.
The Republic of Korea is one of Kazakhstan's leading economic partners in Asia. Last year trade turnover between the two countries increased by 16 per cent and reached about $1 billion. Kazakhstan has more than 800 joint ventures with the South Korean capital. Cooperation in the non-primary sector is expanding.
The Kazakh President also noted the effective implementation of joint business projects. In particular, the construction of the Balkhash thermal power plant is being actively implemented. Construction of the second phase of a gas-chemical complex in Atyrau region is in progress.
'Kazakhstan is ready to consider new economic projects that contribute to the development of related industries and the growth and transfer of advanced technologies. The parties also discussed the development of promising areas of energy cooperation, particularly that in the field of alternative and renewable energy sources in Kazakhstan', the statement said.
Discussion of an international agenda was an important part of the negotiations between the two presidents. In particular, Kazakhstan supports the policy of Seoul for the enlargement of inter-Korean relations and supports the continuation of six-party talks. Kazakhstan expressed its readiness to take an active part in the consideration of agreements on decisions made at the Seoul summit on nuclear security.
The Korean side expressed its intention to provide the necessary support for EXPO-2017 in Kazakhstan. Health issues were also discussed.
Following the talks at the invitation of the President of Korea, Nursultan Nazarbayev visited the Medical Centre at Seoul National University.