Lee holds phone talks with Kyrgyz president

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov attends a joint press conference in Bishkek, Aug. 22. EPA-Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung held a phone call with Kyrgyzstan's president to discuss ways to deepen bilateral cooperation, the presidential office said Thursday.

During the call, Lee thanked Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov for congratulating him on his inauguration and expressed hopes to strengthen cooperation in supply chains and the energy sector, according to a written briefing by presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung.

Lee also called for special attention toward ethnic Koreans residing in Kyrgyzstan.

The two leaders agreed to work toward further advancing their comprehensive strategic partnership, amid increased trading and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

They also plan to work closely together to host the Korea-Central Asia summit scheduled for next year.

The event was pushed back due to political fallout in Korea following President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration on Dec. 3 last year and subsequent impeachment. (Yonhap)