Roh Moo-hyun visits Kazakhstan

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun will have summit talks with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev Monday to discuss issues of mutual interest, including ways of promoting cooperation in energy and natural resources.

The two heads of state are set to sign a pact for the strengthening of bilateral exchanges in the sectors of aerospace and information and telecommunications, according to Chong Wa Dae officials accompanying Roh on his state visit to the central Asian nation.

Roh arrived Astana Sunday with his wife Kwon Yang-suk on the first leg of his official trip to Kazakhstan and Russia. He will fly to Moscow on Monday afternoon to have a summit meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin the following day to discuss the continuing impasse over the North Korean nuclear weapons program as well as ways to improve bilateral trade and investment relations.

"The Roh-Putin summit will focus on the project for linking the Trans-Siberian Railway (TSR) to the envisioned Trans-Korean Railway (TKR) coupled with the introduction of natural gas from Russia to South Korea,"said Chung Woo-sung, presidential aide on foreign affairs.

Roh and Putin will adopt a joint statement at the end of the summit talks focusing on better cooperation in energy and transportation and the development of bilateral relations.

Upon arrival on an Asian Airlines flight at around 4:30 p.m., Roh and his wife were received by Kazakh Acting Foreign Minister Kairat Abusidov and taken to the Monument for Compatriots dedicated to those who died defending their country in a German invasion during World War II.

In the evening Roh met with ethnic Koreans here, representing some 100,000 Korean-Kazakh population called ``Kareiski.''

Roh and his Kazakh counterpart are set to sign agreements on energy, aviation and information technology to facilitate Korean companies in bids to make inroad into the Kazakh market.

Roh also had an interview with Kazakhstan Pravda, stressing bilateral cooperation in energy and natural resources.

Roh's first visit to Russia also has special meaning as this year marks the 120th anniversary of a diplomatic treaty signed by the two nations during the Chosun period. Current diplomatic relations were resumed in 1990.

This year also marks the 140th anniversary of the emigration of ethnic Koreans to Russia's Far East. In addition, Roh's visit to Kazakhstan is the first trip by the nation's head of state in 12 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Chong Wa Dae said the trip to Russia -- one of the BRIC nations, which are emerging as the world's new growth engines _ will complete Roh's series of trips to four major nations surrounding the Korean peninsula.

Roh has been focusing on securing Russia's cooperation in resolving the North Korean nuclear standoff while promoting substantial economic cooperation between the two nations.

The president will also attend a meeting of business leaders to facilitate large cooperative projects like the construction and maintenance of petrochemical complexes in Tatarstan and Havarovsk.

Seoul has been pushing for joint projects with Russia and China in East Siberia and is seeking to import LNG gas from Russia's Sakhalin Island.

Roh is scheduled to meet with Russia's parliamentary leaders and ethnic Koreans before receiving an honorary doctorate degree from Moscow University.

A 50-member business delegation will accompany Roh on his visits, including Samsung Group chairman Lee Kun-hee, Hyundai Automotive Group chairman Chung Mong-koo, LG Group chairman Koo Bon-moo, and the chairmen of five major economic organizations.

Accompanying lawmakers include Reps. Kim Hyuk-kyu, Lee Mi-kyung and Kim Hyung-joo of the ruling Uri Party.

Source: Korea Times