Korean Assembly speaker, Central Asian counterparts discuss cooperation at inaugural conference

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Wed, December 6, 2023 | 07:42

Foreign Affairs

Korean Assembly speaker, Central Asian counterparts discuss cooperation at inaugural conference

Posted : 2023-09-19 15:02

Updated : 2023-09-19 15:02

National Assembly speaker Kim Jin-pyo, left, shakes handswith his Kyrgyzstan counterpart, Nurlanbek Shakiev, ahead of the Korea-Central Asia Parliamentary Speakers' Conference at a hotel in Seoul, Sept. 19. Yonhap

Korea's parliamentary speaker and counterparts from five Central Asian countries held a conference in Seoul on Tuesday to discuss cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

At the inaugural Korea-Central Asia Parliamentary Speakers' Conference held in Seoul, Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo said Korea hopes to "blossom a cooperative and mutually beneficial future toward the new era."

Along with Kim, the meeting brought together heads of legislatures from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The conference is set to be held annually, with Turkmenistan set to host next year's gathering.

Kazakhstan's assembly speaker, Yerlan Koshanov, said he looked forward for the conference to become an important backbone in developing relations between the six countries.

The morning session of Tuesday's event wrapped up with a luncheon hosted by Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon. He asked for the countries to support Korea's bid to host the World Expo in 2030 in Busan, 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

Kim has also held separate one-on-one meetings with assembly speakers from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, and requested their support for Korea's World Expo bid. (Yonhap)