Seoul, Republic of Korea
A ceremony was held in Seoul to confer the Order of Dostyk of II degree, on prominent government and public figures of the Republic of Korea.
Welcoming the participants of the ceremony, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized that the Kazakh and Korean peoples have long been bound by strong ties of friendship.
“Despite the considerable distance separating our countries, we are brought together by mutual respect and shared interests. The Korean economy is developing successfully, overcoming competition and challenges. This has been made possible by the hard work of the people and the efforts of major businesses. The people and Government of Kazakhstan hold sincere respect for friendly Korea. The Republic of Korea is a strategic partner of Kazakhstan. We regard Korea as a country enjoying great authority on the international stage. Our multifaceted cooperation is growing stronger with each passing year. Five years ago, the Declaration on Enhanced Strategic Partnership was adopted”, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.
He noted that the two countries have established close political dialogue and continue to strengthen multifaceted cooperation.
“Trade and economic relations are developing dynamically. We are implementing a number of large-scale projects in mechanical engineering, energy, metallurgy, advanced technologies and other sectors. Globally renowned Korean companies are successfully operating in our country. Our cultural and humanitarian ties are also growing stronger”, the President said.
President Tokayev particularly highlighted the important role of Kazakhstan’s Korean community in strengthening ties of friendship.
“Today, more than 100,000 ethnic Koreans live in Kazakhstan. They play an important role in the economic and socio-political development of our country. We have created favorable conditions for all ethnic groups. The Koryo-saram community lives in peace and harmony on Kazakh soil and makes a significant contribution to strengthening unity and solidarity. Korean cultural centers operate in Kazakhstan. The Korean Academic Theatre in Almaty enjoys recognition and affection among the public. A newspaper is published and a dedicated radio program is broadcast in the Korean language”, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.
The Head of State expressed his conviction that strengthening friendship between Kazakhstan and Korea serves the common interests of the two peoples.
“I consider today a very important day for Kazakhstan-Korea relations. I have decided, as part of this visit, to present the Order of Dostyk of II degree to prominent government and public figures of the Republic of Korea. This is a sign of the genuine respect and sincere appreciation of the Kazakh people. I am confident that you will continue to make a significant contribution to strengthening ties between our countries”, the President noted.
During the ceremony, the Order of Dostyk of II degree, was conferred on Maeng Sung Kyu and Lee Jae-kwan, Members of the 22nd National Assembly of the Republic of Korea; Lee Sang-kyun, President of Seoul Cyber University; Son Young-hoon, Professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) and Director for the Institute of Central Asian Studies; and Kim Bu-seop, Director of Hyundai General Hospital.
