Korea inks 35 deals with Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, covering critical minerals, halal markets

Korea signed 35 agreements and memorandums of understanding with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in Seoul on Wednesday during the first Korea-Central Asia Summit. President Lee Jae Myung and the two Central Asian leaders agreed to expand cooperation in trade, critical minerals, AI and digital industries, logistics, security and culture. The deals also cover customs, police work and disaster management, and Lee said he hoped for deeper mutually beneficial ties going forward.

Korea and Tajikistan signed 17 agreements covering textile, chemical and machinery exports, as well as cooperation on AI and digital industries.

The Tajikistan agreements also deepen ties in railways, transportation and logistics, intellectual property, energy and industrial safety.

Korea and Kyrgyzstan signed 18 agreements, including a revised MOU on trade and investment cooperation.

The Kyrgyzstan package covers critical minerals, halal markets, infrastructure development, livestock technology, energy and intellectual property.

The two countries also agreed to cooperate in culture and sports, customs and police work against transnational crime, and disaster management.

Published Sep 16, 2026 3:57 pm KST

President Lee Jae Myung shakes hands with Tajikstan's President Emomali Rahmon at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

Korea signed a combined 35 agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOU) with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday, spanning energy, investment, security and cultural cooperation, as Seoul hosted the first Korea-Central Asia Summit this week.

President Lee Jae Myung met Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, where the two leaders signed 17 agreements to expand textile, chemical and machinery exports and lay the groundwork for cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI) and digital industries.

The agreements deepen ties in railways, transportation and logistics, as well as intellectual property, energy and industrial safety. The two sides also moved to explore cooperation on critical minerals and the green transition.

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The agreements also strengthen customs and police cooperation against transnational crime, while expanding exchanges in personnel administration, anti-corruption efforts and education.

"Korea and Tajikistan have steadily developed cooperation since 1992, and I find it deeply meaningful that this visit has allowed our two countries to establish a comprehensive partnership," Lee said. "I hope the two countries will expand mutually beneficial cooperation in railways, critical minerals, digital technology and other areas going forward."

Rahmon said strengthening cooperative ties with Korea is one of the key priorities for Tajikistan's foreign policy.

"Next year, Korea and Tajikistan will mark the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations," the Tajik leader said. "I believe establishing a legal and institutional foundation to elevate our cooperation to a new level of partnership is an essential step."

President Lee Jae Myung shakes hands with Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Japarov at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

Later that day, Lee also met with Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Japarov at Cheong Wa Dae, where the two countries signed 18 agreements, including a revised MOU on trade and investment cooperation.

The agreements cover critical minerals, halal markets, infrastructure development, livestock technology, energy and intellectual property, aiming to boost mutual trade and investment and public-private partnership projects.

The two countries also agreed to cooperate in culture and sports, as well as in customs and police work to combat transnational crime and in disaster management.

Lee recalled that Japarov made his first visit to Korea on Dec. 3, 2024. That day, then-President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law after a summit with Japarov, prompting him to cancel his remaining schedule and return home.

"Given the unexpected disruption during your last visit, I have been looking forward to meeting you here in Korea," Lee said. "Korea and Kyrgyzstan are steadfast partners that have developed cooperation in many fields."

Japarov said Korea is regarded as a key partner in the Asia-Pacific region.

"There are no major differences in political views between our two countries, and we hold similar positions on international and regional affair," Kyrgyzstan's leader said. "I believe we will be able to build substantive cooperation in new areas going forward."

Japarov added that he hoped Lee would visit Kyrgyzstan next year for 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, saying such a visit would be "a meaningful milestone in bilateral relations."

周三，在首尔举行的首届韩国—中亚峰会上，韩国与塔吉克斯坦和吉尔吉斯斯坦签署了35项协议和谅解备忘录。韩国总统李在明与两位中亚领导人同意扩大在贸易、关键矿产、人工智能和数字产业、物流、安全和文化等领域的合作。这些协议还涵盖海关、警务和灾害管理等领域。李在明表示，他希望未来能够建立更深层次的互利关系。

韩国和塔吉克斯坦签署了 17 项协议，涵盖纺织品、化学品和机械出口，以及人工智能和数字产业方面的合作。

塔吉克斯坦的协议还深化了铁路、运输和物流、知识产权、能源和工业安全等领域的联系。

韩国和吉尔吉斯斯坦签署了 18 项协议，其中包括修订后的贸易和投资合作谅解备忘录。

吉尔吉斯斯坦一揽子计划涵盖关键矿产、清真市场、基础设施建设、畜牧技术、能源和知识产权。

两国还同意在文化体育、海关和警务工作、打击跨国犯罪以及灾害管理等领域开展合作。

发布于2026年9月16日下午3:57（韩国标准时间）

周三，韩国总统李在明在首尔青瓦台与塔吉克斯坦总统埃莫马利·拉赫蒙握手。（韩联社）

本周，韩国在首尔主办首届韩国—中亚峰会期间，于周三与塔吉克斯坦和吉尔吉斯斯坦签署了共计 35 项协议和谅解备忘录，涵盖能源、投资、安全和文化合作等领域。

李在明总统在首尔青瓦台会见了塔吉克斯坦总统埃莫马利·拉赫蒙，两国领导人签署了17项协议，旨在扩大纺织品、化学品和机械出口，并为人工智能和数字产业的合作奠定基础。

这些协议深化了双方在铁路、交通运输和物流、知识产权、能源和工业安全等领域的联系。双方还探讨了在关键矿产和绿色转型方面的合作。

韩国与哈萨克斯坦将关系提升为战略伙伴关系

韩国与土库曼斯坦签署13项涵盖投资、能源和安全等领域的协议

这些协议还加强了海关和警察在打击跨国犯罪方面的合作，同时扩大了在人事管理、反腐败工作和教育方面的交流。

李说：“自1992年以来，韩国和塔吉克斯坦的合作稳步发展，此次访问使两国建立了全面伙伴关系，我对此深感欣慰。我希望两国未来在铁路、关键矿产、数字技术等领域拓展互利合作。”

拉赫蒙表示，加强与韩国的合作关系是塔吉克斯坦外交政策的关键优先事项之一。

塔吉克斯坦领导人表示：“明年，韩国和塔吉克斯坦将迎来建交35周年。我认为，建立法律和制度基础，将我们的合作提升到新的伙伴关系水平，是至关重要的一步。”

周三，韩国总统李在明在首尔青瓦台与吉尔吉斯斯坦总统萨德尔·扎帕罗夫握手。（韩联社）

当天晚些时候，李明博还在青瓦台会见了吉尔吉斯斯坦总统萨德尔·扎帕罗夫，两国签署了18项协议，其中包括修订后的贸易和投资合作谅解备忘录。

这些协议涵盖关键矿产、清真市场、基础设施建设、畜牧技术、能源和知识产权，旨在促进相互贸易和投资以及公私合作项目。

两国还同意在文化和体育领域开展合作，并在海关和警务工作中打击跨国犯罪和灾害管理方面开展合作。

李回忆说，扎帕罗夫于2024年12月3日首次访问韩国。当天，时任总统尹锡烈在与扎帕罗夫举行峰会后宣布戒严，促使他取消了剩余的行程并返回韩国。

李说：“鉴于您上次访问期间遭遇了意料之外的变故，我一直期待着在韩国与您会面。韩国和吉尔吉斯斯坦是坚定的合作伙伴，在许多领域都开展了合作。”

贾帕罗夫表示，韩国被视为亚太地区的重要合作伙伴。

吉尔吉斯斯坦领导人表示：“我们两国在政治观点上没有重大分歧，在国际和地区事务上立场相似。我相信，未来我们能够在新的领域建立实质性合作。”

贾帕罗夫补充说，他希望李光耀明年能够访问吉尔吉斯斯坦，庆祝两国建交35周年，并表示这样的访问将是“双边关系中的一个重要里程碑”。