S. Korean president arrives in Kazakhstan for summit

(ATTN: CHANGES dateline; RECASTS headline, lead paras to highlight South Korean
president's arrival; UPDATES with additional information)
By Byun Duk-kun
ASTANA, May 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak arrived Tuesday
in Kazakhstan for summit talks focused on economic issues and other matters of
bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Lee and his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev will hold talks early
Wednesday following an official welcoming reception at the Ak Orda presidential
palace.
The visit comes as part of a two-nation trip that also includes Uzbekistan and is
part of South Korea's efforts to reach out to Central Asia.
The agenda for Wednesday's summit will likely include energy and economic
cooperation between the two countries, as well as Seoul's assistance to
Kazakhstan, South Korean officials said.
Seoul is seeking to significantly improve its relations with other Asian nations
through a diplomatic campaign called the "New Asia Initiative," in which the
South Korean government aims to actively promote the diplomatic and economic
interests of Asia in the international community.
"President Lee's trip will help establish a strong friendship based on trust
between leaders of key friendly nations in the Central Asian region, as well as a
foundation for mutually beneficial relations by strengthening cooperation in
energy and natural resource development, construction, infrastructure and IT
industries," an official said.
Lee will also hold talks with Korean residents during his three-day stay in
Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, before heading home Thursday.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)