Seoul, Astana to hold summit talks on cooperation, economic crisis

By Byun Duk-kun
ASTANA, May 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Kazakh
President Nursultan Nazarbayev will meet here Wednesday for discussions on
forming a joint front against the global financial crisis and increasing their
bilateral cooperation.
The South Korean head of state arrived here Tuesday following a three-day state
visit to Uzbekistan, part of his two-nation Central Asian trip.
"The two leaders will likely announce they will upgrade the relationship between
their countries to a strategic partnership," a South Korean official said.
Lee's trip to the region comes as part of Seoul's efforts to boost its ties with
Central Asia under a new diplomatic campaign called the "New Asia Initiative."
Under the initiative, South Korea, the world's 13th largest economy, aims to
actively promote Asia's interests in the international community.
The Lee-Nazarbayev meeting will bring gains to both of their nations, South
Korean officials said.
Seoul is expected to offer assistance to Kazakhstan in the construction, railroad
and shipbuilding industries while seeking to increase its stakes in the country's
energy and natural resource development projects, they added.
Another major issue for the leaders is the ongoing global economic crisis.
Nazarbayev has asked the South Korean president to share his country's experience
in dealing with past economic crises, the officials said.
Lee will also meet with Kazakhstan's prime minister, Karim Massimov, later
Wednesday for talks on ways to improve relations and increase exchanges between
their countries.
He will also attend an economic forum and give a speech on new, green growth.
The South Korean leader will meet with a group of Korean residents here later in
the day before heading home early Thursday.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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