Seoul: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held summit talks with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on Wednesday, emphasizing Kyrgyzstan as a pivotal partner in political and economic domains and advocating for increased bilateral exchanges.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the bilateral summit precedes the inaugural South Korea-Central Asia Summit, which will also see participation from the presidents of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan. This event is set to take place later Wednesday in Seoul.

President Lee noted that South Korea and Kyrgyzstan have developed strong cooperative ties since establishing diplomatic relations in 1992, encompassing politics, the economy, and culture. He highlighted Kyrgyzstan as South Korea's second-largest trading partner in Central Asia by trade volume, expressing optimism that the potential for cooperation between the two countries will foster further bilateral growth.

Lee pinpointed several sectors for expanded cooperation, including infrastructure, public administration, public safety, disaster response, food security, and education. He also sought support from President Japarov for Seoul's initiatives aimed at fostering peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula.

President Japarov acknowledged South Korea as a significant cooperation partner within the Asia-Pacific region, underscoring the priority his country places on collaboration with Seoul across various sectors. He noted the absence of major political differences between the two nations and their aligned stances on international and regional issues. Japarov expressed confidence in the potential for untapped cooperation and extended an invitation to President Lee to visit Kyrgyzstan next year, marking the 35th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.