Seoul: Prime Minister Han Seong-sook met with Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Japarov on Thursday and discussed ways to boost trade and exchanges between the two countries. Japarov was in Seoul for the inaugural South Korea-Central Asia Summit that Seoul launched with five Central Asian nations-Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan-to strengthen economic partnerships with the resource-rich region.

According to Yonhap News Agency, during the meeting, Han expressed her anticipation for mutually beneficial cooperation by combining Kyrgyzstan's mineral resources with South Korea's technological advancements. She also extended her congratulations to Japarov on Kyrgyzstan's election to the U.N. Security Council as a non-permanent member.

Japarov highlighted Kyrgyzstan's rapid economic growth, noting an annual rate of at least 9 percent over the past five years and a notable 12 percent in the first half of this year alone. He emphasized the need for investment, advanced technologies, and manufacturing infrastructure to sustain the country's economic progress.

"We view the Republic of Korea as a key partner with immense potential for cooperation," Japarov stated. He expressed strong interest in South Korean companies expanding their business in Kyrgyzstan on a more comprehensive and sustainable basis. Specifically, he prioritized expanding industrial cooperation, establishing joint production facilities, and localizing production.