By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

In his address at the WeGO Kick-off Event on February 20, 2024, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Korea, Mr. Nurgali Arystanov, expressed his gratitude to Secretary General Jung Sook Park for hosting the event. He highlighted the importance of city-to-city diplomacy and WeGO's proactive efforts to strengthen city networks for smarter, more inclusive urban environments.

Referring to the upcoming WeGO Executive Committee Meeting 2024 and 7th General Assembly as major events to be held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Mr. Arystanov appreciated Almaty's selection as an Executive Vice President City of WeGO and the opening of a regional office for Central Asia. Underscoring Almaty’s role as a gateway to Central Asia, he said that this decision presented an opportunity to tap into Central Asia's economic potential and foster strategic partnerships, leveraging the city’s geographical advantage and cultural ties.

Ambassador Arystanov mentioned the bilateral meeting between Almaty's Mayor Yerbolat Dossayev and Seoul's Mayor Oh Se-hoon, and the award bestowed to Almaty in the Tech-InnovaCity category at the Seoul Smart City Prize inaugural ceremony. He highlighted Almaty's robust transportation links and convenient accessibility to Seoul, facilitating closer bilateral ties.

The Ambassador noted that the number of Korean tourists traveling to Kazakhstan more than doubled in 2023, underscoring Kazakhstan's status as an emerging tourist destination, economic powerhouse and cultural bridge between East and West. President Tokayev's ambitious goals for Kazakhstan's development, including enhancing transport and logistics capabilities and achieving annual 6% GDP growth, align closely with opportunities for cooperation with Korean companies such as Samsung, Kia, Doosan, KT, Hyundai, KHNP, and K-Water.

Looking ahead, Ambassador Arystanov expressed eagerness to showcase Almaty's achievements and learn from WeGO city partners. He emphasized the importance of events like the Kick-off in facilitating idea-sharing and partnership forging, inviting the attendees and international guests to Almaty.

In conclusion, he underscored Almaty's willingness in smart city collaboration and its commitment to fostering global partnerships for a better urban future, signaling a commitment to continued cooperation and mutual growth.