Seoul: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan agreed to establish a comprehensive partnership between their countries, with the South Korean leader expressing hope the new partnership will help expand the countries' cooperation in various areas, including critical minerals.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the agreement to upgrade the countries' relationship came in a bilateral summit at Cheong Wa Dae, ahead of the inaugural South Korea-Central Asia Summit to be held later Wednesday. This summit will also be attended by the heads of state of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
"Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1992, South Korea and Tajikistan have continuously developed friendly cooperation," Lee said at the opening of his meeting with the Tajikistani president. He emphasized the significance of establishing a comprehensive partnership on the occasion of Rahmon's visit, highlighting Tajikistan's rich mineral resources and high economic growth potential. Lee pledged that South Korea will "proactively cooperate for Tajikistan's economic development as a trustworthy partner," focusing on sectors such as railways, critical minerals, and digital technology.
Rahmon expressed that strengthening cooperation with South Korea is a policy priority for Tajikistan, underscoring the long-standing solidarity and friendship between the two nations. He stressed the importance of creating legal and institutional frameworks to elevate bilateral cooperation and noted that the dialogue is vital for enhancing diplomacy and political trust.
In a subsequent meeting with South Korean Prime Minister Han Seong-sook, Rahmon discussed ways to bolster all-round cooperation, highlighting that the development of relations with South Korea is a significant foreign policy focus for Tajikistan. A series of 17 agreements were signed on the sidelines of the summit, primarily aimed at enhancing economic cooperation and establishing a legal framework for bilateral relations.
Rahmon expressed satisfaction with the growth of relations between the two countries, stating, "The new pacts signed today will contribute to further strengthening the economic partnership that is beneficial to each other."