Kyrgyzstan, South Korea intend to strengthen and expand bilateral cooperation

Bishkek, April 5, 2021 . / Kabar / . Kyrgyzstan’s Prime Minister Ulukbek Maripov met with Park Byeong-seug, the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, the press service of the Kyrgyz Government reported on Monday. "The trade cooperation potential between Kyrgyzstan and the Republic of Korea has great unrealized prospects. At the moment, trade turnover between our countries is only $100 million, which does not reflect the existing potential and possibilities. It is important for us to increase the potential of bilateral trade and economic cooperation," Ulukbek Maripov said. The head of the government stressed the importance of the support provided by the Republic of Korea in the organization and conduct of electoral processes in the Kyrgyz Republic. "The Republic of Korea has made a great contribution to the implementation of democratic reforms in our country. For example, we use Korean technology in conducting transparent and fair elections. We are talking about automatic ballot box readers. We also appreciate the success of the Government of the Republic of Korea in the fight against COVID-19 and express our gratitude for the assistance in the fight against the spread of coronavirus infection," the prime minister stressed. In turn, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Park Byeong-seug thanked the Kyrgyz side for the warm welcome and hospitality. "The Republic of Korea considers Kyrgyzstan as a country open to new political reforms. It is important for us that you are a democratic country with an open market economy. Previously, you were the first country among the CIS countries to receive preferences from the World Trade Organization. That's why we will be glad to support the process of Kyrgyzstan's even more democratic development," the speaker said. Ulukbek Maripov noted the Kyrgyz side attaches importance to further continuation of political dialogue between the two countries, and expressed its readiness to strengthen and expand bilateral cooperation.