1. On June 1, Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik met with his Kyrgyz counterpart Omurbek Babanov, who is on a visit to the Republic of Korea to attend the 7th Jeju Peace Forum, in Jeju. The two Prime Ministers exchanged views on ways to develop the relations between the two countries.

2. Prime Minister Kim commended Kyrgystan’s democratic development, including the first-ever democratic power transfer in Central Asia, and voiced hope that Prime Minister Babanov’s visit to the ROK will contribute to enhancing the friendly and cooperative ties between the two countries. In addition, he expressed hope that the establishment of permanent diplomatic missions of the two countries in each other’s countries in 2008 as well as direct flights between the two countries in 2012 will help accelerate bilateral cooperation. He asked for Kyrgyzstan’s support for the ROK companies operating in the country. He also conveyed hope that an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation will be concluded at an early date, thereby strengthening the legal and institutional foundation for bilateral cooperation.

3. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Babanov voiced hope for increased people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in economy, trade, agriculture, tourism and various other fields. He also requested that the ROK expand the quota for Kyzgyz workers under the Employment Permit System, share its economic development experience through the Knowledge Sharing Project and increase its development assistance through the Korea International Cooperation Agency. He also expressed hope that the two governments will work to increase investment by ROK companies in his country as well as to promote exchanges and cooperation between small- and medium-sized enterprises of the two countries.

4. During his visit to the ROK, Prime Minister Babanov delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 7th Jeju Peace Forum and attended a ROK-Kyrgyzstan Business Forum.

                                       Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFAT

* unofficial translation