1. Deputy Minister for Political Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kim Gunn held a preparatory meeting for the 13^th Republic of Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Marat Syzdykov on November 4. In the meeting, the two sides reviewed the status of preparations for the 13^th ROK-Central Asia Cooperation Forum and discussed issues of mutual interest, including ways to increase cooperation between the ROK and Central Asia and the situation in Central Asia.

2. The two sides shared the view that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, the ROK and Kazakhstan have steadily developed friendly and cooperative relations including through robust high-level exchanges, and particularly noted that President Moon Jae-in’s visit to Kazakhstan in April last year served as an opportunity for the two countries to link the ROK government’s “New Northern Policy” and Kazakhstan’s national development strategy “Nurly Zhol (Bright Path),” thereby laying the groundwork for pursuing future-oriented cooperation.

o In particular, Vice Minister Syzdykov commended the ROK’s response to COVID-19, and expressed appreciation for the ROK’s support for Kazakhstan’s efforts to overcome COVID-19, including the ROK government’s humanitarian assistance and a virtual meeting between Korean medical experts and Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Healthcare.

3. The two sides shared the view that the ROK-Central Asia Cooperation Forum launched in 2007 has established an exemplary framework for multilateral cooperation that promotes substantive cooperation between the ROK and Central Asia in various fields.

o Deputy Minister Kim expressed gratitude for Kazakhstan’s active participation in the past twelve ROK-Central Asia Cooperation Forums. He particularly said that the 12^th Forum hosted by Kazakhstan last year was all the more meaningful as it was the first ministerial-level one held in Central Asia, and suggested continuing to cooperate to further develop the Forum.

o Vice Minister Syzdykov took note that the ROK-Central Asia Cooperation Forum is contributing significantly to enhancing ROK-Central Asia cooperation, and added that Kazakhstan will work actively together to ensure the success of the 13^th Forum to be held at the ministerial-level again this year.

4. The two sides said that it is particularly significant that the ROK and Central Asia agreed to maintain the momentum of multilateral cooperation by holding the 13^th Forum in a hybrid format (both face-to-face and virtual) amid the COVID-19 situation this year, and noted with appreciation that the two sides are preparing systematically for the Forum including holding working-level preparatory meetings.

5. Deputy Minister Kim praised Kazakhstan’s efforts to promote regional integration in Central Asia, including hosting the Central Asia summit in 2018. The two sides agreed to continue cooperation as important partners for fostering multilateral cooperation between the ROK and Central Asia, as regional cooperation in Central Asia is in line with the spirit of the ROK’s New Northern Policy which seeks increased connectivity and co-prosperity with Eurasia.