S. Korea, Kazakhstan elevate ties, agree to boost cooperation in crude oil, nuclear power

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SEOUL, Sept. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Kazakhstan agreed Tuesday to elevate bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership and strengthen cooperation in crude oil, nuclear power and other advanced sectors, Seoul's presidential office said.

The agreement was reached during a summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held in Seoul one day before the first South Korea-Central Asia Summit.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (R) shakes hand with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ahead of their talks at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Sept. 15, 2026. (Yonhap)

The two leaders agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a "future-oriented comprehensive strategic partnership," building on diplomatic relations established in 1992 and a strategic partnership formed in 2009, according to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung.

They also agreed to expand cooperation beyond trade and investment to encompass economic security, advanced industries and people-to-people exchanges.

The two governments signed 13 intergovernmental agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) covering areas including crude oil, nuclear power and energy.

Among the agreements is a basic pact on crude oil cooperation, under which the two sides will work together on Kazakh crude oil supplies, geological exploration, oil and gas field development, and responses to disruptions in global crude oil supplies.

Kazakhstan is Central Asia's largest oil producer and exports crude through routes that do not pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which could help South Korea diversify its sources of crude oil imports, the presidential office said.

The agreement follows South Korea's efforts in April to secure 18 million barrels of Kazakh crude oil during a visit by presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik to Kazakhstan as a special envoy for strategic economic cooperation.

Regarding nuclear power cooperation, the two countries signed two agreements on the peaceful use of nuclear energy covering joint research and development on nuclear power and small modular reactors, nuclear and radiation safety, stable nuclear fuel supplies, and workforce development.

"The agreements will establish a comprehensive framework for cooperation across the nuclear energy sector and help support our companies' participation in new nuclear power projects in Kazakhstan," Kang said.

The move is also expected to strengthen nuclear fuel supply chain ties with Kazakhstan, one of the world's leading uranium producers, enhancing energy security and expanding bilateral nuclear ties.

The two leaders also agreed to expand economic cooperation into future growth areas, such as artificial intelligence (AI), science and technology, and new cities, while broadening cooperation in renewable and clean energy.

At Lee's request for support for the stable activities of South Korean companies in Kazakhstan, Tokayev expressed his intention to designate the country's first deputy prime minister as a "Korea desk."

The two sides also discussed promoting people-to-people exchanges and content industry cooperation, as well as preserving sites and records related to Korea's independence movement in Kazakhstan ahead of the 90th anniversary in 2027 of the settlement of ethnic Koreans in Central Asia.

Tokayev invited Lee to make a state visit to Kazakhstan next year, with the two leaders agreeing to coordinate a mutually convenient date through diplomatic channels, the presidential office said.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (R) walks with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev toward the official welcoming ceremony at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Sept. 15, 2026. (Yonhap)

graceoh@yna.co.kr (END)

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S. Korea, Kazakhstan elevate ties, agree to boost cooperation in crude oil, nuclear power

这将使谷歌能够向您展示与您的搜索匹配或相关的韩联社新闻文章。

首尔，9月15日（韩联社）——韩国总统府周二表示，韩国和哈萨克斯坦同意将双边关系提升为全面战略伙伴关系，并加强在原油、核能和其他先进领域的合作。

该协议是在韩国总统李在明和哈萨克斯坦总统卡西姆-若马尔特·托卡耶夫于首尔举行的峰会上达成的，峰会召开于首届韩国—中亚峰会的前一天。

2026年9月15日，韩国总统李在明（右）在首尔总统府青瓦台与哈萨克斯坦总统卡西姆若马尔特·托卡耶夫举行会谈前握手。（韩联社）

据总统发言人康裕贞称，两国领导人同意将双边关系提升为“面向未来的全面战略伙伴关系”，以1992年建立的外交关系和2009年建立的战略伙伴关系为基础。

他们还同意将合作范围扩大到贸易和投资之外，涵盖经济安全、先进产业和人文交流等领域。

两国政府签署了 13 项政府间协议和谅解备忘录，涵盖原油、核能和能源等领域。

双方达成的协议中有一项关于原油合作的基本协议，根据该协议，双方将在哈萨克斯坦原油供应、地质勘探、油气田开发以及应对全球原油供应中断等方面开展合作。

总统府表示，哈萨克斯坦是中亚最大的石油生产国，其原油出口路线不经过霍尔木兹海峡，这有助于韩国实现原油进口来源多元化。

此前，韩国总统幕僚长姜勋植于 4 月份以战略经济合作特使的身份访问哈萨克斯坦，期间韩国努力确保获得 1800 万桶哈萨克斯坦原油。

在核电合作方面，两国签署了两项关于和平利用核能的协议，涵盖核电和小模块化反应堆的联合研发、核与辐射安全、稳定的核燃料供应以及人才培养等方面。

康表示：“这些协议将为整个核能领域的合作建立一个全面的框架，并有助于支持我们的公司参与哈萨克斯坦的新核电项目。”

此举预计还将加强与世界领先的铀生产国之一哈萨克斯坦的核燃料供应链联系，从而增强能源安全并扩大双边核能关系。

两国领导人还同意将经济合作扩展到人工智能、科技、新城等未来增长领域，同时扩大在可再生能源和清洁能源领域的合作。

应李光耀的请求，托卡耶夫表示愿意支持韩国企业在哈萨克斯坦的稳定经营，并表示将任命该国第一副总理担任“韩国事务处”。

双方还讨论了促进民间交流和内容产业合作，以及在2027年朝鲜族在中亚定居90周年之际，保护与朝鲜族在哈萨克斯坦独立运动相关的遗址和记录。

总统府表示，托卡耶夫邀请李明博明年对哈萨克斯坦进行国事访问，两位领导人同意通过外交渠道协调一个双方都方便的日期。

2026年9月15日，韩国总统李在明（右）与哈萨克斯坦总统卡西姆若马尔特·托卡耶夫一同走向首尔青瓦台，参加正式欢迎仪式。（韩联社）

graceoh@yna.co.kr (完)

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